THE 


SIEGE  OF  DERRY, 


OR, 


SUFFERINGS  OF  THE  PROTESTANTS 


TALE  OF  THE  REVOLUTION, 


CHARLOTTE  ELIZABETH.  '^  )  lO^ 


From    the  Seventh    English    Edition 


NEW  YORK. 

JOHN  S.  TAYLOR  &  Co. 

BRICK   CHURCH   CHAPEL,  145  NASSAU-STBEKT. 
1841. 


S.   W.   BENEDICT,  PRINTEK. 


TO 


JOHN  ROBERT  BOYD,  Esq. 


OF    BALLYMACOOL. 


My  Dear  Frie:^d, 

To  you  I  need  not  say,  that  in  tracing  the  out- 
line of  that  memorable  defence  in  which  your  ancestors 
bore  a  distinguished  part,  I  have  faithfully  adhered  to  the 
historical  data  afforded  by  credible  writers. 

In  prefixing  your  name  to  the  volume,  I  would  fain  ex- 
press my  grateful  regard  towards  you  :  my  deep  feelings 
of  the  wrongs,  and  sympathy  in  all  the  woes,  of  your  be- 
loved, unhappy  country.  May  the  wisdom  that  is  from 
above  direct  the  steps  of  her  embarrassed  Protestants,  and 
that  which  is  from  beneath  be  banished  from  their  coun- 
cils. May  Popery  unmasked  be  the  prelude  to  Popery 
destroyed,  not  by  carnal  weapons,  but  by  the  word  of 
truth :  not  by  the  might  and  power,  but  by  the  Spirit,  of 
the  Lord  of  Hosts. 

I  am, 
Your  affectionate  Friend, 

Charlotte  Elizabeth. 


PREFACE 


TO    THE    SIXTH    EDITION 


Ax  impression  seems  to  prevail  in  some  quarters  that  the  work 
which  has  now,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  reached  a  sixth  Edition,  is  a 
mere  fiction;  or  at  least  that  the  facts  relating  to  the  defence  of 
Derry  have  been  greatly  exaggerated,  under  the  influence  of  imagi- 
nation or  of  party  spirit.  This  is  an  erroneous  supposition  :  cha- 
racters have  certainly  been  introduced,  and  domestic  scenes  describ- 
ed, for  the  purpose  of  bringing  forward  the  object  of  all  earthly 
tilings  most  dear  to  the  author's  heart — that  of  affording  instruction 
in  their  own  tongue  to  the  Irish-speaking  Aborigines  of  the  land  ; 
and  also  of  realizing  more  vividly  the  sufferings  to  which  individuals 
were  exposed  during  the  period  of  their  wonderful  defence  of  the 
Protestant  fortress ;  but  in  every  particular  where  public  events  are 
noticed,  she  has  been  most  scrupulously  exact  in  following  the  histo- 
rical records  of  those  days,  and  now,  after  having  for  the  first  time 
actually  visited  the  spot,  inspected  its  numerous  monuments  of  the 
siege,  and  collected  every  species  of  information  that  could  be  ob- 
tained, she  finds  but  one  mis-statement  to  correct  throughout  the  nar- 
rative. This  consisted  in  an  erroneous  representation  of  the  con- 
duct of  the  Presbyterian  leaders,  into  which  she  was  led  by^the 
remarks  of  another  writer. 


VI  PREFACE. 

Familiarized  as  the  author  had  loiig  been  with  all  the  recorded 
particulars  of  that  momentous  struggle  which  forms  the  main  sub. 
ject  of  the  following  pages,  she  was  overwhelmed  with  wonder  when 
the  first  view  of  the  maiden  city  broke  upon  her  from  that  direction 
whence  Lord  Antrim's  forces  approached  to  meet  the  unexpected 
repulse  of  the  gallant  Apprentices.  Abruptly  rising  from  within  a 
bend  of  the  beautiful  Foyle,  terminating,  as  it  seemed,  in  a  point,  and 
that  narrow  summit  crowned  with  the  single  church,  Derry,  the 
Dorry  of  1683,  appeared,  girt  with  the  dark  zoue  of  her  impregnable 
old  walls,  and  occupying  a  space  so  limited,  that  when  by  an  effort 
of  imagination  the  numerous  additions  of  more  moderate  date  were 
swept  away,  and  their  places  supplied  by  the 'lines  and  batteries  of  an 
investing  army,  it  did  ica'ly  seem  like  a  vision  of  wild  romance, 
rather  than  a  simple  fact  of  history,  that  the  defenders  of  such  a  nar- 
row fortress  should  have  held  their  besiegers  at  bay  during  eight 
months  of  unsuccoured  distress,  and  finally  have  driven  them  from 
the  scene  of  their  unparalleled  discomfiture. 

But  when  passing  through  the  Ship-quay  Gite,  the  visitor  found 
herself  actually  witliin  the  boundary  where  no  Papal  foe  was  ever 
permitted  to  set  up  his  banner,  when,  with  a  swelling  heart,  she 
paced  the  still  unbroken  round  ef  those  glorious  ramparts,  and  from 
the  cathedral's  tower  took  in  at  once  the  whole  compass  of  the  scene^ 
wonder  and  admiration  rose  into  awe :  for  never  in  the  varied- 
history  of  the  church's  deliverances  was  the  finger  of  Omnipotence 
more  clearly  revealed  than  in  the  preservation  of  this  diminutive 
casket,  where  the  Lord  had  enshrined  the  jewel  of  true  Protestan- 
tism, and  by  the  word  of  his  power  had  declared  that  no  spoiler 
should  rend  it  thence.  He  alone  who  for  the  promotion  of  his  own 
glory,  and  to  abase  the  jjride  of  man,  hath  usually  chosen  the  weak 
thino's  of  the  world  to  confound  the  strong,  could  have  given  the 
victory  to  the  enfeebled  handful  who  remained,  after  a  protracted 
period  of  inconceivable  suffering,  to  maintain  that  post,  of  which  the 
limited  space  and  more  limited  supplies  were  less  remarkable  thai\ 
its  helplessly  exposed  situation,  commanded  by  surrounding  hills,  the 
broad  outstretch  of  which  afforded  such  favorable  positions  to  the 
assailants,  that  every  battery  they  chose  to  mount  could  tell  with  cer- 


PREFACE.  Vll 

tain  effect  on  the  city.  In  tracing  the  occupation  of  the  ground  by 
the  French  and  Irish  army,  and  glancing  down  upon  the  straitened 
space  within  the  walls,  computing  the  density  of  an  imprisoned  po- 
pulation, and  the  inevitable  effects  of  an  incessant  bombardment  upon 
the  dwelling-houses,  the  streets,  the  walls,  the  inhabitants,  there  was 
but  one  conclusion  to  which  the  mind  could  satisfactorily  come : 
"  This  was  the  Lord's  doing,  and  it  is  mar^'ellous  in  our  eyes." 

Memorable  and  honorable  as  the  defence  of  1688-9  has  rendered 
the  name  of  Derry,  it  is  far  from  constituting  her  sole  claim  to  dis- 
tinction. JMany  circumstances  of  much  earlier  date  distinguish  her 
among  the  interesting  spots  of  a  most  interesting  country.  The  ex- 
treme beauty  of  the  situation,  added  to  its  pecuhar  value  as  a  sea- 
port, seem  to  have  recommended  it  from  the  earliest  times  as  a  de- 
sirable post.  The  name  by  which  it  was  first  known  was  Derry- 
Calgach,  literally  signifying  "  the  oak-wood  of  the  fierce  warrior." 
In  former  days,  the  slopes  that  on  all  sides  bend  down  to  the  Foyle 
were  covered  with  noble  oaks ;  and  upon  its  conical  hill  no  doubt 
some  powerful  chieftain  fixed  his  abode,  bidding  defiance  alike  to  the 
rival  clans  around,  and  to  the  hostile  invader  who  might,  in  rude 
shipping,  approach  him  from  the  neighboring  coasts  of  Scotland  or 
England — to  the  fierce  Norwegian  or  the  restless  Danej  or  who- 
soever might  attempt  to  violate  the  sanctuary  of  his  own  green  Isle. 
In  the  sixth  century  the  celebrated  Columbkill,  who  was  a  native  of 
Donegal,  chose  this  tempting  site  for  the  erection  of  a  monastery — 
not  a  covert  for  the  lazy  monks  of  Rome,  for  at  that  period  the  papal 
antichrist  had  not  stretched  his  arrogant  pretensions  even  to  the 
shores  of  England,  and  long,  very  long  after  England  became  a 
vassal  of  the  Romish  despot,  Ireland  maintained  the  independence  of 
her  pure  Christian  Church.  Columbkill's  monastery  was  a  house 
of  prayer  and  of  devotional  retirement  for  men  whose  zeal  in  the 
study  and  propagation  of  divine  truth  was  tainted  neither  by  a  pha- 
risaical  spirit  of  separation  from  their  fellow  men,  nor  by  unscriptural 
restraint  from  the  privileges  and  enjoyments  of  domestic  life.  After 
a  while  the  warlike  distinction  of  Calgach  gave  place  to  a  memorial 
of  the  mild  Christian  patriot,  and  Derry-Columbkill  became  the  re- 
cognized title  of  the  oak-girt  city. 


Vm  PREFACE. 

It  was  not  until  so  late  as  1566  that  the  garrison  of  Derry  passed 
into  the  hands  of  the  English:  up  to  that  period,  the  native  race  had 
held  possession,  defeating  all  who,  at  various  times,  attempted  to 
dislodge  them.  In  1600,  during  the  commotions  excited  by  that  ex- 
traordinaiy  person,  Hugh  Roe  O'Donnell,  Queen  Elizabeth  dispatch- 
ed Sir  Henry  Docwra,  with  a  powerful  body  of  men,  who  landed 
from  the  Foyle,  and  having  cleared  away  the  ruins  of  Columbkill's 
institutions,  then  long  desecrated  by  the  idolatrous  inventions  of 
Popery,  and  which  had  been  nearly  destroyed  by  an  explosion  in 
1568,  they  commenced  the  work  of  regular  fortification,  by  digging  a 
fosse,  throwing  up  a  rampart,  and  by  every  means  in  their  power 
placing  the  town  on  the  defensive.  Thus  the  very  first  foundation 
of  the  walls  of  Derry  was  the  work  of  Protestant  hands ;  and  the 
materials  employed  were  gathered  from  the  wreck  of  what  had  been 
originally  dedicated  to  the  pure  worship  of  God,  thence  passed  into 
the  polluting  grasp  of  Romish  superstition,  and  now,  having  under- 
gone a  decomposing  process  by  way  of  purifying  them,  they  were 
recomposed  into  a  substance  destined  to  be  the  groundwork  of  the 
firmest  earthly  bulwark  that  Protestantism  ever  entrenched  itself 
witliin.  So  many  and  so  various  are  the  points  of  interest  that 
Derry  offers  to  our  contemplation. 

When  the  terrible  rebeUion  of  1641  broke  out,  and  Ireland  was 
reddened  with  the  blood  of  many  thousand  Protestants,  principally 
the  victims  of  a  massacre  such  as  the  Romish  Apostacy  usually  en- 
joins and  practices  for  the  purgation  of  her  domains  from  heretical 
taint,  the  possession  of  Derry  formed  an  object  of  great  importance 
to  the  rebels,  who  purposed  taking  it  by  surprise;  but  the  vigilance 
of  its  inhabitants  defeated  this  plan ;  and  by  the  divine  blessing  on 
their  determined  resistance  its  garrison  succeeded  in  holding  unin- 
terrupted possession  of  their  post,  destined  to  become  the  scene  of  a 
far  more  extraordinary  defence  and  deliverance  at  the  distance  of  less 
than  half  a  century  from  that  time. 

Protestantism  being  the  pole-star  of  the  Derry  men,  their  submis- 
sion to  earthly  rulers  seems  to  have  been  always  yielded  under  the 
limitation  which  is  now,  happily,  the  safeguard  of  the  British  sceptre. 
Their  allegiance  always  bore  the  saving  clause,  "  being  a  Protes- 


PREFACE.  IX 

tant;"  so  that,  when  nearly  the  whole  of  the  north,  disgusted  by  the 
regicidal  acts  of  the  parUamentariaus  declared  against  Cromwell, 
Derry  in  1649  stood  another  close  investment,  and  a  severe  siege  of 
four  months,  rather  than  recognize  an  authority  that,  however  legi- 
mate,  was  regarded  as  dangerous  to  the  interests  of  Protestantism. 
On  this  occasion,  Owen  Roe  O'Neill  reheved  the  garrison,  when  re- 
duced nearly  to  the  last  extremity;  and  for  their  unshaken  fidelity  to 
the  cause  the  citizens  received  a  renewal  of  their  charter,  granted  by 
James  I.,  and  cancelled  by  his  unhappy  son  Charles,  but  now  re- 
stored with  additional  privileges  by  Cromwell.  In  1687,  James  II. 
then  in  the  full  career  of  his  persecuting  tyranny  in  Dublin,  brought 
a  quo  warranto  against  the  corporation,  and  thus  again  wrested  their 
charter  away. 

But  the  following  year  proved  fatal  to  the  hopes  of  that  monarch ; 
and  its  closing  month  introduced  the  eventful  transactions  of  which 
the  ensuing  pages  furnish  a  feeble  but,  as  far  as  it  goes,  a  correct 
memorial.  Of  incidents  pregnant  with  most  thrilling  interest,  enough 
might  easily  be  supplied  to  fill  an  additional  volume  ;  but  the  author's 
principal  anxiety  has  been  to  show  how  tlie  spirit  of  pure  Protes- 
tantism may  best  work  for  the  good  of  those  much  injured  claimants 
on  our  Christian  sympathy  and  zeal,  the  native  race  of  Ireland.  In- 
fluenced as  they  now  unhappily  are  to  perpetrate  anew  the  worst 
outrages  of  former  times,  when  Popery  enjoyed  the  ascendant 
among  them,  a  display  of  physical  force  and  of  moral  determination 
appears  requisite  to  restrain  them  from  accomplishing  the  will  of 
their  wily  and  remorseless  instigators,  the  men  who,  themselves 
wrapped  in  mysterious  retirement,  work  the  vast  machinery  of 
Popish  aggression  and  aggrandisement  throughout  the  world.  The 
miserable,  sworn  assassin,  who  without  being  able,  or  even  desirous, 
to  make  out  a  case  of  personal  wrong,  or  the  slightest  ground  of  in- 
dividual hatred  against  his  victim,  stealthily  tracks  his  path,  and 
stoops  behind  the  hedge  for  a  deliberate  aim  at  the  unconscious 
prey — that  wretched  peasant  is  influenced  as  a  puppet  by  its  wire, 
and  its  every  motion  impelled  by  the  unseen  chain  of  which  the  last 
link  encloses  him,  body,  soul,  and  spirit,  while  the  first  is  firmly 
grasped  in  the  practised  hand  of  the  man  of  sin,  enthroned  on  the 
B* 


X  PREFACE. 

seven  hills  of  Rome.  An  incalculable  accession  of  strength  and 
ductility  has  accrued  to  this  infernal  engine  of  despotic  cruelty  by  the 
various  sins  of  ignorance  and  of  presumption  that  England  has  com- 
mitted both  against  Ireland  and  against  herself,  in  fostering  the  ac- 
cursed thing  that  God  commands  his  people  to  cast  out  from  among 
them.  These  sins  have  already  found  us  out,  and  Protestantism 
among  ourselves  is  even  now  struggling  in  the  net  of  chains  that 
could  never  have  been  cast  over  us  but  for  our  own  wanton  con- 
nivance at  the  evil.  In  Ireland  that  net  is  more  perfectly  wrought 
and  far  more  closely  drawn,  but,  blessed  be  God !  the  struggle  there 
is  so  vigorous,  so  persevering,  so  believing,  that  a  good  hope  is  in- 
spired of  seeing  the  links  broken,  and  the  captives  set  free.  Pro- 
testantismthere  exists  in  a  wider  extension  than  is  generally  dreamed 
of;  the  struggle  adverted  to  is  carried  on  under  the  roof  of  many  a 
cabin,  in  the  half  enlightened  mind  of  many  a  poor  devotee,  whose 
hand  falters  with  secret  misgivings  while  telling  out  the  idolatrous 
ave  on  the  string  of  beads :  it  struggles  in  the  confessional,  as  a  ray 
of  unsought  light  breaks  in,  revealing  the  spiritual  darkness  that 
shrouds  the  unholy  tribunal :  it  struggles  on  the  steps  of  the  vain 
altar,  where  reason  itself  must  fall  prostrate  before  a  palpable  lie,  and 
the  mind  suffer  degradation,  while  the  soul  incurs  pollution,  and  the 
lip  utters  blasphemy.  It  struggles  too  in  the  bosoms  of  some  who 
are  themselves  important  links  in  the  fetter  that  holds  their  unhappy 
dupes,  and  who,  when  led  to  open  the  Word  of  God,  and  finding 
tlie  path  of  life  set  forth  so  plainly  in  its  pages  that  way-faring  men, 
though  fools,  need  not  err  therein,  remember  their  fearful  oath,  bind- 
ing them  to  receive  and  to  understand  the  Scriptures  only  as  their 
Apostate  Church  professes  to  receive  and  to  underetand  them ;  and 
thus  are  reduced  to  the  alternative  of  direct  perjury  or  of  consciously 
turning  the  truth  of  God  into  a  lie. 

To  aid  the  struggling  Protestantism  of  these  awakened  souls,  to 
disperse  more  widely  the  light  that  alone  can  break  on  the  slumbers 
of  their  still  sleeping  brethren,  and  thus  to  fling  the  iron  net  from  off' 
their  beloved  counti-y,  is  the  object  for  the  attainment  of  which  the 
Protestants  of  Ireland  struggle  too,  under  difficulties  and  in  the 
midst  of  perils  scarcely  to  be  conceived  by  those  who  have  not  en- 


PREFACE.  XI 

joyed  the  rich,  yet  melancholy  privilege  of  beholding  their  patience 
and  faith  in  the  very  scene  of  trial.  Yet  enough  may  be  gathered 
from  what  passes  under  our  observation  at  home  to  convince  us 
that  it  becomes  our  bounden  duty  to  assist  in  the  veork ;  and  nothing 
will  so  effectually  promote  it  as  a  right  understanding  of  the  means 
whereby  a  hold  may  be  acquired  on  the  affections,  and  an  influence 
exerted  over  the  minds  of  the  lower  classes  in  Ireland.  In  this  humble 
volume  the  subject  has  never  been  lost  sight  of;  and  the  Author 
sends  forth  a  sixth  impression  with  feelings  of  unspeakable  gladness, 
while  computing  to  how  many  thousands  of  individuals  the  plea 
must  have  found  its  way  by  the  dispersion  of  the  former  five  editions. 
On  one  occasion,  the  volume  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  an  aged 
Christian  Englishwoman,  who,  on  perusing  it,  immediately  added 
to  her  will  a  bequest  of  one  hundred  pounds  to  the  Irish  Society 
whose  peculiar  work  it  is  to  instruct  the  native  race  through  the 
medium  of  their  own  language.  Such  instances  are  very  cheering 
to  the  Author ;  she  desires  and  anticipates  a  blessing  on  this  edition 
also  :  and  she  strongly  protests  against  having  her  book  classed  with 
works  of  fiction,  or  considered  as  amusement  for  an  idle  hour. 

The  sufferings  here  recorded  of  the  Protestant  defenders  of  Derry, 
and  the  other  victims  of  Popish  cruelty,  ought  to  speak  to  us  all  in 
the  voice  of  solemn  admonition.  Are  we  so  well  grounded  in  the 
faith  for  which  they  endured  them  as  to  maintain  it  as  at  costly  a 
price,  if  called  on  so  to  do  ?  Are  we  convinced  by  the  Spirit  of  God 
that  Popery  is  indeed  what  his  Word  represents  it  to  be,  the  "  mother 
of  harlots  and  abominations  of  the  earth  ?"  Do  we  comprehend  the 
soul  destroying  nature  of  her  delusions,  their  inevitable  conse- 
quences, and  the  awful  condemnation  denounced  on  such  as  perish 
in  the  guilt  of  trusting  to  them  ?  Are  we  fully  aware  that  Popery 
rejects  Christ  as  Prophet,  degrades  Him  as  Priest,  and  dethrones 
Him  as  King  ?  Have  we  considered  the  device  in  its  true  character, 
as  a  mystery  of  iniquity,  whereby  Satan  has  instructed  men  to  es- 
tablish a  political  system  for  gain  and  authority,  by  means  of  a  reli- 
gious deception:  making  merchandize  of  the  souls  of  their  brethren? 
that  they  may  rule  despotically  over  their  bodies,  and  grasp  their 
worldly  possessions  ?     If  not,  we  have  been  exceedingly  remiss  in 


Xll  PREFACE. 

uot  inquiring  into  the  grounds  of  our  own  faith,  which  our  fore- 
fathers held  amid  the  flames  of  martyrdom  rather  than  concede  a 
particle  of  it  to  Romish  demands.  If  we  do  know  this,  how  deal  to 
our  hearts  should  be  the  memory  of  the  Lord's  mighty  works  in  de- 
livering these  lands  from  the  fearful  scourge,  our  fathers  from  the 
yoke,  and  ourselves,  hitherto,  from  the  peril.  It  was  by  no  slight 
effort  on  the  part  of  those  who  contended  against  it  that  the  rescue 
was  effected  ;  nor  ought  we  to  regard  in  tlie  light  of  a  mere  exciting 
tale  the  history  of  their  deeds  and  their  endurance. 

As  respects  the  struggle  in  Derry,  whether  we  view  the  nature, 
the  extent,  or  the  continuance  of  what  its  defenders  went  through, 
the  reality  is  so  overpowering  as  scarcely  to  leave  room  for  the  wild- 
est fancy  to  present  an  exaggerated  picture  of  the  scene.  In  the  first 
place,  the  town  is  so  small,  taken  in  connection  with  the  multitude 
who  had  found  a  refuge  there,  that  it  is  almost  inconceivable  how  they 
could  be  lodged;  yet  the  documents  whence  these  particulars  are  taken 
are  official  reports,  civil  and  militaiy,  now  before  the  writer,  and  bear- 
ing the  date  of  1689,  the  year  in  which  they  were  printed.  From  these 
it  appears  that  the  garrison  amounted,  at  the  commencement  of  tiie 
bombardment,  to  7,343,  and  the  whole  population  to  above  30,000. 
The  space  within  which  these  were  confined  is  nearly  an  oval  sur- 
rounded by  the  walls :  less  than  2,000  feet  is  its  extreme  length,  and 
its  utmost  width  is  less  than  600.  A  street  perfectly  straight,  and  of 
remarkable  steepness,  runs  through  it  from  Ship  quay  to  Bishop's 
Gate  ;  another  cuts  it  across,  on  the  top  of  the  ascent,  from  Butcher's 
to  Ferry  Gate.  Their  intersection  forms  the  Diamond,  in  the  cen- 
tre of  which  stood  the  court-house,  used  as  a  guard-house  during  the 
siege.  The  space  between  the  houses  and  rampart  forms  another 
street,  running  nearly  round  the  city,  and  besides  these  there  werenot 
above  five  small  intersections  in  tlie  place.  The  Cathedral,  with  its 
grave-yard,  the  small  burial-ground,  and  the  Bishop's  palace  and 
garden,  as  well  as  the  Diamond,  took  up  a  great  deal  of  room  ;  so 
that  the  inhabitants  were  crowded  into  the  narrowest  bounds  we  can 
suppose  capable  of  containing  them.  Now,  to  shew  on  indisputable 
authority  one  consequence  of  this  dreadful  confinement  the  follow- 
ing extract,  gathered  from  the  parish  registry,  may  suffice. 


PREFACE.  XUl 

"  There  were  but  two  places  of  burial  within  the  walls — that 
round  the  cathedral  and  a  small  space  not  far  from  it,  on  which  the 
present  chapel  of  ease  was  afterwards  built.  Nine  thousand  corpses 
were  interred  within  the  walls  between  the  18th  of  April  and  the  1st 
of  August,  in  these  receptacles  for  the  dead  :  being  filled  to  overflow- 
ing, there  was  a  want  of  earth  or  other  material  to  cover  the  putri- 
fying  bodies,  and  the  shells  aimed  at  the  living  frequently  fell  among 
tlie  dead,  and  made  hideous  exhumations  of  lately  buried  bodies. 
In  this  sad  state,  the  practice  of  burial  in  the  back  yards  became  un- 
avoidable." After  the  relief,  the  naked  bodies  in  the  church-yards 
were  covered  over  with  rubbish  gathered  from  the  ruins  of  the  Town 
Hall  and  other  buildings  destroyed  by  the  shells :  those  buried  in  the 
back  yards  of  the  various  houses  were  allowed  to  remain  there ;  and 
it  was  found  necessary  to  issue  very  severe  prohibitions,  enforced  by 
strict  vigilance,  to  discontinue  the  interment  of  such  as  died  soon 
after  the  relief  beside  their  slaughtered  friends — so  strong  was  the 
desire  to  enjoy  a  share  in  the  grave  of  those  who  had  so  long  shared 
in  their  sufferings ! 

Surely  there  is  little  danger  of  exaggeration  when  treating  of 
such  a  subject  as  this.  Language  cannot  convey  an  adequate  idea 
of  what  must  have  been  endured  by  these  martyrs  to  Protestantism, 
nor  can  the  mind  grasp  a  scene  of  such  accumulated  horrors  as  must 
have  glared  out  on  every  side  to  sicken  the  hearts  of  the  fainting 
multitude  for  many  weeks  previous  to  their  deliverance.  It  is  pain- 
ful to  remark  too  that  the  recompence  of  their  constancy  was,  so  far 
as  it  rested  with  man  to  bestow  it,  a  tissue  of  ingratitude  and  wrong. 
Kirke,  the  unfeeling  general  •who,  in  the  point  of  cruelty  of  disposi- 
tion might  almost  have  rivalled  De  Rosen,  assumed  the  command  of 
the  town,  and  exhibited  suchawant  ofcommon  justice  in  his  proceed- 
ings towards  the  dauntless  little  garrison  and  their  heroic  comman- 
ders as  ought  to  have  drawn  down  upon  himsevere  punishment  from 
the  Protestant  king.  But  William  was  only  a  political  Protestant ; 
of  the  life-giving  influence  that  alone  produces  spiritual  Protestantism 
he  appears  to  have  been  destitute;  and  those  among  the  defenders 
of  Derry  who  had  wrought  and  suffered  for  Christ's  sake  and  the 
Gospel,  had  their  reward  in  seeing  the  religion  of  Christ  firmly  re- 


XIV  PREFACE. 

established  through  their  means,  and  the  Gospel  secured  to  iheir 
children  beyond  the  grasp  of  Popish  violence  that  would  fain  have 
wrested  it  away. 

Weak,  imperfect,  wholly  unworthy  of  the  subject  as  istheensuing 
attempt  at  recording  the  main  incidents  of  the  Siege  of  Derry,  the 
Author  unfeignedly  rejoices  that  it  was  her  privilege  to  make  it. 
Those  who  read  it  must  needs  know  something  of  the  deeds  and  suf- 
ferings of  former  generations,  a  more  intimate  acquaintance  with 
which  would  have  checked  the  growth  of  that  false  and  mischievous 
liberalism  which  is  eating  out  the  very  heart  of  Protestant  principle. 
These  pages  but  faintly  delineate  Popery  as  it  was  in  Ireland ;  and 
what  Poperywas,  in  its  days  of  rampant  domination,  that  Popery 

IS,  AND  EVER  WILL  BE. 

Many  who  doubted  this  ten  years  ago,  and  who,  acting  upon  that 
doubt,  forebore  to  grapple  with  their  country's  destroyer,  even  when 
striving  to  obtain  a  footing  in  the  legislature,  now  mourn  in  the 
bitterness  of  their  souls  such  a  faithless  dereliction  of  duty ;  and 
deplore  too  late  the  blindness  of  that  hour.  Somewhat  yet  remains 
to  contend  for ;  all  is  not  utterly  lost  though  our  high  vantage  ground 
is  abandoned,  and  the  exulting  enemy  pours  through  a  breach  that 
they  could  never  have  effected,  had  we,  with  the  spirit  of  our  fore- 
fathers, manned  the  walls  of  our  citadel.  Oh  that  there  may  be 
among  us  a  heart  to  rally  round  and  throw  ourselves  upon  that 
breach,  to  resist  the  encroaching  tide,  to  set  up  a  banner  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord,  and,  remembering  that  with  Him  there  is  no  restraint  to 
save  by  many  or  by  few,  to  experience  yet  once  more  His  delivering 
mercy,  and  in  His  almighty  strength  to  trample  the  great  master-piece 
of  Satanic  ingenuity  under  our  feet ! 

May,  1839. 


THE    SIEGE    OF    DERRY 


DERRY: 

A   TALE   OF    THE   REVOLUTION 


CHAPTER  L 


"  To  exchange  such  a  spot  as  this  for  the  smoke,  the  din, 
and  publicity  of  a  town — how  shall  I  prevail  on  them  ?" 

Such  was  the  mental  inquiry  of  Bryan  M'Alister,  as 
he  slowly  wound  along  through  one  of  the  most  romantic 
defiles  of  the  ancient  Tyrconnel.  November  blasts  had 
stripped  the  foliage  from  many  a  towering  tree  and  luxu- 
riant shrub,  tarnishing  the  emerald  hue  of  Erin's  sod,  and 
imparting  to  that  majestic  scenery  a  character  as  sternly 
wild  as  were  the  spirits  of  those  times.  Yet  beautiful, 
surpassingly  beautiful  in  despite  of  cloud  and  storm,  the 
giant  hills  arose,  the  vallies  crouched  beneath  their  shel- 
tering bulwarks,  and  the  broad  lake  expanded,  or  the  nar- 
row streamlet  rippled  on,  diversifying,  by  its  liquid  splen- 
dor, the  ever  changeful  prospect.  Home  itself,  that  centre 
of  all  attractions  to  young  Bryan's  affectionate  heart,  could 
not  by  its  proximity  win  him  to  quicken  his  pace.  He 
suffered  the  rein  to  hang  loosely  on  his  horse's  neck,  and 
2 


10  DERRY. 

gazed  around  him  with  the  sad  forebodings  of  one  who  an- 
ticipates a  long  farewell  to  a  spot  endeared  by  every  tender 
recollection  of  infancy  and  youth. 

The  abode  towards  which  he  was  so  leisurely  advanc- 
ing, lay  buried  in  deep  seclusion,  considerably  removed 
from  the  highway.  The  approach  was  a  perfect  labyrinth, 
scarcely  deserving  the  name  of  a  road,  or  even  of  a  path ; 
but  Bryan's  steed  required  no  guidance  to  the  well  known 
spot.  Emerging  from  the  covert  under  which  an  ascent, 
and  then  a  descent  had  been  pursued,  he  now  came  full 
in  view  of  the  simple  but  substantial  cottage  that  sheltered 
all  his  earthly  treasures  ;  and  his  near  approach  was  pre- 
sently discovered  by  its  delighted  inmates.  A  sturdy 
house-dog  was  the  first  to  greet  him,  with  the  warning 
bark  of  defiance,  instantaneously  changed  into  the  yelp- 
ings of  joy,  as  he  bounded  forward  to  spring  against  the 
saddle.  Two  blooming  girls  next  rushed  from  the  door ; 
and  after  them  hastened  a  white-haired  retainer  of  that 
noble,  but  no  longer  affluent  house,  whose  fallen  fortunes 
it  was  his  pride  to  follow.  A  bare-headed  gossoon  seized 
the  bridle  with  one  hand,  while  the  other  plucked  at  his 
matted  locks  by  way  of  obeisance  ;  old  Shane  laid  hold  on 
the  stirrup  ;  and  the  impatient  sisters  seemed  disposed  to 
drag  their  prize  from  his  seat,  before  he  could  well  dis- 
mount. Bryan  had  a  kiss,  and  a  smile,  and  a  tear  too  for 
each,  with  many  a  kind  word  to  old  Shane,  as  he  hobbled 
after  the  youthful  trio,  to  the  presence  of  two  more  ex- 
pectants ;  a  smiling  mother  and  a  grandame,  whose  feelings 
were  too  deep  to  find  vent  in  many  words,  as  she  em- 
braced and  blessed  the  sole  representative  of  her  slaugh- 
tered line. 

But  why  attempt  to  describe  the  most  indescribable  of 
all  things— an  Irish  welcome,  bestowed  on  one  around 
whom  a  cluster  of  Irish  hearts  entwined  their  fondest  af- 
fections 1 


DERRY.  11 

Amid  the  interesting  group  now  assembled,  a  stranger's 
eye  would  have  involuntarily  rested  on  the  form  and  fea- 
tures of  the  venerable  parent.  Both  were  strikingly  noble, 
nor  had  the  pressure  of  near  threescore  years  and  ten  di- 
minished the  sparkling  intelligence  of  the  face,  or  bowed 
perceptibly  the  stately  figure  of  the  old  lady.  Highly  in- 
tellectual, and  marked  with  decision  of  character,  her 
countenance  yet  bespoke  a  meek  benevolence  which  en- 
deared what  had  otherwise  been  too  commanding  to  in- 
spire affection  ;  and  there  were  traits  of  long  and  patient 
endurance,  sufficient  to  show  that  a  cross  had  indeed  been 
borne  by  her,  whose  whole  deportment  told  a  tale  of  pious 
resignation. 

Slie  was  a  daughter  of  the  princely  race  of  O'Neill, 
brought,  in  childhood,  by  a  chain  of  providential  circum- 
stances, under  the  influence  of  truly  Christian  advisers. 
Thus  her  mind  became  early  and  deeply  imbued  with 
doubts  and  apprehensions  as  to  the  soundness  of  her  here- 
ditary religion.  Pursuing  in  secret  the  inquiry,  she  had 
made  a  tacit  renunciation  of  its  errors  ;  convinced  by  the 
mere  force  of  reason  and  such  arguments  as  came  within 
her  reach.  At  an  early  age  she  had  become  attached  to 
Colonel  M'Alister,  a  Protestant  of  rank  and  influence, 
whom  she  married,  much  to  the  chagrin  of  her  own  bi- 
goted kindred,  and  resided  with  his  family  until  the  dread- 
h.\l  massacre  of  1641  cut  off  many  of  them,  and  sent  most 
of  the  survivors  broken  hearted  to  an  untimely  grave. 

Through  many  calamities,  and  bitter  reverses  of  fortune, 
she  had  been  brought  to  such  a  thorough  self-acquaintance 
as  laid  her  low  at  the  foot  of  the  Redeemer's  cross ;  and 
rendered  her  a  meet  guide  for  the  children  of  her  only 
son,  v/ho,  with  their  widowed  mother,  dwelt  in  this  se- 
cluded nook  of  their  native  Donegal,  subsistino;  on  the 
wreck  of  a  fortune  once  most  abundant.  Letitia  and 
Ellen,  the  latter  of  whom  was  scarcely  past  the  age  of 


12  DEERY. 

childhood,  furnished  sufficient  employment  for  those  whom 
they  fondly  designated  their  two  mothers ;  but  Shane  dis- 
tinguished the  younger  widow  as  "  the  mistress,"  and  the 
elder  as  "  the  Lady  of  M'Alister,"  by  which  title  she  was 
generally  known  and  spoken  of,  throughout  the  narrow 
circle  of  their  rustic  acquaintance. 

Shane  O'Connogher  was  a  genuine  Irishman  from  the 
western  province,  bred  to  arms  from  his  infancy,  and  most 
devotedly  attached  to  the  master,  whose  steps  he  had  faith- 
fully followed.  The  same  partial  affection  that  led  him, 
as  a  young  lad,  to  separate  from  the  Romish  communion, 
and  to  embrace  nominally  the  faith  of  his  benefactor,  in- 
spired him  with  unspeakable  horror  and  detestation  of  all 
belonging  to  that  party  by  whom  the  cruel  murder  was 
perpetrated.  Shane  was,  in  truth,  a  devotee  to  his  politi- 
cal creed  ;  and  in  universal,  indiscriminate  hatred  of  all 
who  differed  from  him,  he  could  not  be  outdone  by  any 
partizan  of  any  cause  whatsoever.  His  ardent  fidelity  was 
so  appreciated  by  all  the  wrecks  of  M'Alister's  house,  that 
it  secured  to  him  immunities  and  privileges,  approaching 
rather  to  the  station  of  a  friend  than  that  of  a  domestic. 

Shane  had  never  relinquished  the  use  of  his  vernacular 
tongue  ;  loquacious  at  most  times,  his  eloquence  never 
flowed  so  freely  or  so  rapidly,  as  when  his  thoughts  found 
vent  in  his  native  Irish  ;  and  his  frequent  soliloquies  in  that 
language  proved  a  source  of  so  much  vexation  to  the  chil- 
dren, by  exciting  their  curiosity,  that  they  gladly  became 
his  pupils,  and  acquired  some  little  knowledge  of  a  tongue 
too  generally  as  much  despised  among  the  higher  classes, 
as  it  is  beloved  and  cherished  by  their  more  humble  com- 
patriots. 

Of  all  created  beings,  the  Lady  of  M'Alister  possessed 
the  largest  portion  of  Shane's  reverential  regard :  but  he 
failed  not  to  protest  against  her  views  and  proceedings  on 
some  occasions ;  particularly  in  what  related  to  her  son 


DERRY.  13 

and  grandson,  neither  of  whom  she  would  allow  to  follow 
the  profession  of  her  husband.  The  former  had  suffered 
so  much  from  the  perils  and  privations  to  which  his  help- 
less infancy  was  exposed,  that  he  never  acquired  strength 
of  constitution  ;  he  had  lived  in  retirement,  and  died  of 
lingering  decline  soon  after  the  birth  of  Ellen.  Shane  ad- 
mitted that  he  was  not  formed  for  military  life  ;  but  could 
by  no  means  pardon  the  wrong  done  to  the  Protestant 
cause,  by  restraining  Bryan  from  following  what  was  cer- 
tainly the  early  bent  of  his  inclinations — for  Bryan  was 
truly  Irish,  after  Shane's  own  fancy :  manly  in  person, 
robust  in  constitution,  warm  in  his  affections,  and  buoyant 
in  spirits  as  the  bubble  that  danced  upon  the  water.  His 
laughing  eye  was  sunsliine  to  the  old  man's  heart ;  and 
Shane  had  observation  sufficient  to  discern  the  deep,  firm 
energy  of  character  which  had  as  yet  been  but  partially 
called  forth :  a  steadiness  of  purpose  and  unflinching  reso- 
lution, joined  to  great  personal  courage.  The  sweetness 
of  a  placid  temper,  rendered  yet  more  even  by  the  subdu- 
ing influences  of  divine  grace,  restrained  the  exhibition  of 
these  more  vigorous  traits  ;  but  Shane  delighted  to  trace 
them,  and  loudly  bewailed  the  successful  appeals  which 
had  won  on  the  youth's  affectionate  heart  to  concur  in  the 
wishes  of  his  "  two  mothers,"  and  to  become  the  appren- 
ticed assistant  of  a  respectable  merchant  in  Derry. 

"  Ahone  !"  sighed,  or  rather  groaned  the  old  man  when 
he  heard  that  the  indentures  were  made  out.  "Isn't  it  a 
big  shame  to  plant  the  last  of  the  M'Alisters  behind  a 
counter,  out  of  the  way  of  all  the  honor  and  glory  in 
life  1" 

"  Be  easy,  Shane,  dear  ;  those  things  are  not  confined  to 
any  profession.  A  faithful  discharge  of  duty  is  the  right 
road  to  them  every  where." 

"  Murder  !  Master  Bryan,  avourneen  :  is  it  yourself  that 
has  the  face  to  say  so  1  You'd  get  'em  as  a  soldier ;  or 
2* 


14  DERRY. 

may  be  as  a  sailor ;  but  musha !  who  ever  heard  of  the 
honor  and  glory  of  a  'Piie.ntice  Boy  !"  and  he  turned 
away  in  high  disdain. 

As  a  'Prentice  Boy,  however,  the  last  of  the  M'Alistera 
was  well  satisfied  to  commence  his  modest  career.  The 
seed  of  divine  truth  had  not  been  vainly  scattered  by  pi- 
ous hands  during  his  early  days ;  it  had  taken  deep 
root,  it  had  visibly  sprung  up,  and  gave  promise  of  a 
plenteous  harvest.  Those  very  traits  in  Bryan's  charac- 
ter, which  rendered  him  the  delight  of  his  companions, 
were  to  himself  a  source  of  watchful  solicitude  ;  and  he 
bowed  in  secret  thankfulness  to  the  wisdom  which  mark- 
ed out  for  him  a  path  where  such  fiery  qualities  stood  in 
less  apparent  peril  of  being  fanned  into  a  flame.  He  had 
acquired  that  great  lesson — the  root  of  all  humility —self- 
knowledge  ;  and  his  acquaintance  with  the  doctrines 
of  the  gospel  was  not  merely  theoretical :  it  was  practical, 
and  wrought  in  him  a  growing  conformity  to  the  Author 
and  Finisher  of  his  faith.  He  felt  that  much,  very  much, 
was  yet  wanting  to  purify  the  silver :  and  he  patiently 
awaited  the  operation  of  whatsoever  furnace  it  might  please 
the  Great  Refiner  to  prepare,  for  the  trial  of  that  precious 
metal. 

Bryan  had  now  been  settled  for  two  years  with  his  mas- 
ter ;  and  his  steady  application  to  business  had  won  many 
kind  approvals,  with  frequent  permission  to  visit  the  cot- 
tagers in  the  glen.  To  them  his  approach  was  ever  as  the 
returning  spring  after  the  clouds  of  winter ;  so  dearly,  so 
exclusively,  was  he  beloved  in  that  retired  nook.  The 
object  of  his  present  excursion,  however,  was  one  of  more 
serious  import  than  any  that  had  preceded  it ;  and  he  lost 
no  time  in  making  known  to  the  wondering  little  circle 
that  surrounded  the  evening  fire,  his  wish  to  accomplish 
their  removal  to  the  town  of  Derry. 


BERRY.  15 

His  grandmother  shook  her  head,  and  his  mother  de- 
clared it  to  be  impossible. 

"  Nay,  but  let  us  hear  his  reasons,"  said  Letitia,  "  for 
Byran  is  not  apt  to  counsel  foolishly." 

"  They  must  be  powerful  reasons,  my  child,  that  would 
tempt  me  from  this  quiet  retreat,  to  place  you  amid  the 
turbulent  scenes  of  a  city,  a  seaport,  and  a  garrison  town." 

"  Dear  mother,"  said  the  youth,  "  the  dangers  that  you 
would  encounter  are  trifling,  compared  with  those  from 
which  you  must  flee.  A  storm  is  even  now  gathering 
around  ;  and  its  first  thunders  are  already  rolling  in  deep 
menaces  of  unequivocal  import.  Every  nook  in  these 
valleys  will  be  explored  in  quest  of  plunder  and  revenge. 
Think  you  that  a  family  so  marked  as  ours  for  sufferings 
in  the  cause  of  truth,  will  escape  the  deadliest  visitations  of 
their  hatred  1" 

"  Our  family  lies  buried  in  obscurity  ;  its  name  over- 
looked, and  its  history  forgotten." 

"  Never  trust  to  that,  mother.  Many  a  hand  would  yet 
be  raised  to  point  out  the  poor  remains  of  M'Alister ;  and 
many  a  blade  would  thirst  to  quench  its  brightness  in  their 
heretic  blood." 

"  Don't  speak  so,  Brother,"  said  his  younger  sister  im- 
ploringly. 

"  I  speak  as  I  feel,  my  poor  Ellen  :  and  even  were  it 
otherwise,  the  straggling  foragers  would  doubtless  discover 
your  abode.  What  defence  would  be  found  for  such  a 
helpless  household  of  females'!" 

"  The  defence  of  the  Most  High,  young  man,  is  as  po- 
tent in  the  glens  of  Tyrconnel,  as  behind  the  fortresses  of 
Derry,"  said  the  old  lady. 

Bryan  smiled  as  he  bent  towards  her,  and  replied, 
"Must  I  read  back  to  my  dear  grandmother  the  lessons, 
by  means  of  which  she  coaxed  the  hereditary  weapon 
from  my  hand,  and  nailed  me  to  an  ignoble  occupation, 


16  DERRY. 

because  I  should  not  tempt  the  Lord,  nor  hazard  the  last 
hope  of  an  expiring  line  1"  He  then  more  fully  declared 
the  alarming  indications  that  had  of  late  been  given,  of 
some  hostile  design  on  the  part  of  those  who  held  the  great 
mass  of  the  people  in  spiritual  bondage  ;  the  Romish 
Priesthood,  whose  language  had  assumed  a  character  of 
open  defiance  too  general  and  too  daring  to  be  overlooked. 

"  Shane  was  telling  us  strange  things  about  it,"  re- 
marked Lotitia,  "  but  my  grandmother  checked  him." 

"  I  did  so,  my  child ;  because  his  misjuding  zeal  is  apt 
to  lead  him  into  error ;  while  his  prejudices  operate  to  the 
disadvantage  of  every  one  connected  with  the  hostile 
party." 

At  Bryan's  earnest  request,  Shane  was  now  summoned  ; 
and  he,  delighted  to  find  the  restraint  taken  ofT",  gave  full 
vent  to  a  large  collection  of  anecdotes  and  inferences,  bear- 
ing on  the  subject  under  debate ;  of  which,  if  some  pro- 
voked a  smile  by  their  extravagant  improbability,  others 
were  calculated  to  excite  serious  alarm.  He  concluded 
by  advising  Brj'^an  to  make  a  short  tour  through  the  neigh- 
boring vallies,  and  to  judge  from  the  result  of  his  own 
inquiries. 

His  suggestion  was  adopted  ;  and  it  was  ascertained  be- 
yond dispute  that  preparations  of  a  most  threatening  de- 
scription were  on  foot,  among  the  more  fierce  and  lawless 
of  the  peasantry.  Language  was  uttered  from  the  altar 
and  the  pulpit,  that  could  admit  of  but  one  interpretation; 
and  instances  were  not  wanting  where  the  Priest  had  ad- 
ded to  his  harangues  the  encouragement  of  his  personal  as- 
sistance in  collecting,  marshalling,  and  exercising  his  'Sock, 
as  for  military  service.*  In  corroboration  of  all  this,  a  let- 
ter followed  Bryan  from  Dtrry,  with  farther  intelligence 

*  Fee  "Graham's  History  of  the  Siege  of  Derry  ;"  a  work  to 
which  the  author  is  greatly  indebted  for  accurate  and  minute  io- 
forraation. 


BERRY.  17 

of  a  similar  purport,  collected  from  other  quarters ;  and 
the  friendly  head  of  his  establishment  urged  an  immediate 
removal  of  the  family  to  Derry ;  proffering  the  use  of  a 
small  house,  in  a  retired  part  of  the  town,  where,  if  ob- 
scurity were  their  object,  they  might  remain  almost  as 
much  out  of  the  busy  world  as  in  their  present  retreat. 
These  concurrent  circumstances  satisfied  the  Lady  of 
M'Alister,  that  to  reject  such  an  interposition  would  be  in- 
deed presumptuous:  and  as  her  decisions  gave  law  to  the 
whole  household,  immediate  preparations  were  engaged  in 
for  a  hasty  removal,  which  was  accomplished  without 
much  difficulty. 

The  little  mansion  allotted  to  the  strangers  stood  in  a 
retired  street,  on  a  low  site,  well  sheltered,  and  of  course 
suflficiently  sombre.  The  narrow  casements  in  their  deep 
recesses,  shewed  the  thickness  of  walls  that  had  braved 
many  a  stroke  from  the  hand  of  time,  and  contrasted  pain- 
fully with  the  airy  character  of  their  late  abode,  whose 
windows,  gaily  festooned  with  flowering  shrubs,  invited 
the  broad  beam  of  heaven  to  brighten  the  apartments.  The 
young  girls  found  their  spirits  weighed  down  by  irresisti- 
ble depression,  save  when  their  brother's  cheerful  smile 
broke  in  to  dispell  the  gloom  ;  and  the  frequency  of  his 
visits  did  indeed  almost  reconcile  them  to  the  change. 
Their  mother  was  more  perplexed  by  the  absence  of  the 
many  conveniences  which  formed  the  pride  of  her  de- 
partment in  the  forsaken  cottage  ;  while  the  Lady  sat  in 
patient  contentment,  pursuing  her  needle-work,  discours- 
ing with  her  family,  or  deeply  meditating  on  the  pages  of 
that  venerable  volume  which,  in  its  black  binding,  with 
silver  clasps,  lay  evermore  within  reach  of  her  hand. 

To  one  individual,  the  transition  was  fraught  with  un- 
mixed delight.  Old  Shane  scarcely  found  the  winter  days 
long  enough  for  the  pursuit  in  which  he  was  constantly 
engaged,  the  insatiable  quest  after  news.     Neither  his  po- 


18  DERRY. 

litical  animosities,  nor  his  religious  bigotry,  lacked  sym- 
pathizing encouragement  from  kindred  spirits  within  the 
walls  of  Derry,  while  the  prospect  of  hostilities,  the  criti- 
cal position  of  public  affairs,  and  the  overpowering  anxiety 
with  which  three  kingdoms  watched  their  progress,  impart- 
ed an  unspeakable  interest  to  the  most  indifferent  actions 
of  James  Stuart  and  William  of  Nassau.  The  latter  had 
very  recently  effected  a  landing  in  England,  and  every 
rumored  accession  to  his  standard  of  title,  wealth,  and 
military  prowess,  formed  matter  of  rapturous  exultation 
among  the  zealous  partizans  who  surrounded  Shane  O'Con- 
nogher. 

Nor  was  young  Bryan  free  from  enthusiasm  of  the  same 
cast.  The  sparkle  of  his  eye,  and  the  glow  of  his  cheek, 
when  bearing  such  tidings  to  his  family,  bespoke  it  plainly. 
But  the  feeling  of  personal  hostility  was  a  stranger  to  his 
compassionate  bosom,  and  the  life  which  he  counted  not 
dear  to  him  in  the  cause  of  that  holy  faith  wherein  he 
stood,  would  have  been  as  freely  sacrificed  to  win  one  of 
its  deluded  persecutors  from  the  error  of  his  way.  The 
sin,  not  the  sinner,  excited  his  abhorrence  ;  and  while 
against  the  creed  of  Rome  he  avowed  the  most  uncompro- 
mising, the  most  unqualified  hostility,  his  heart  yearned 
over  the  individuals  enthralled  beneath  her  merciless  sway. 
To  implant  in  his  young  mind  this  important  discrimina- 
tion had  been  the  indefatigable  endeavor  of  his  pious 
grandmother,  and  she  had  amply  succeeded,  by  leading  him 
to  the  same  sacred  fountain  from  whence  she  drew  her  own 
supplies  of  knowledge  and  grace.  Herself  delivered  fi-om 
the  net,  she  had  long  been  habituated  to  examine  minutely 
its  texture  ;  and  regarding  it  as  the  mystery  of  iniquity,  the 
master-piece  of  Satanic  wisdom,  the  most  subtle  and  power- 
ful  delusion  that  ever  triumphed  over  reason  in  the  sub- 
version of  revealed  truth,  she  marvelled  not  at  the  stubborn 
adherence  of  its  victims  to  their  blinding  errors,  but  sought 


DERRY.  19 

by  every   affectionate   and  persevering  effort  to  recover 
them  out  of  the  snare. 

In  the  fatal  year  1641,  her  husband,  his  parents,  two 
young  sisters,  and  a  whole  household  of  faithful  domestics 
had  fallen — fallen  within  her  view,  and  under  circumstan- 
ces of  aggravated  cruelty,  while  maternal  love  for  the  help- 
less babe  that  slumbered  in  her  arms,  prompting  the  hope 
of  screening  him  from  those  gory  knives  and  pikes,  nerved 
her  to  remain,  a  concealed  and  silent  spectator  of  these 
horrors.     Shane  O  Connogher,  returning  from  a  mission 
to  the  neighboring   Barony,  had   providentially  escaped 
falling  in  with  the  assassins ;  and  by  him  she  was  borne 
away  from  the  scene  of  blood,  nearly  in  a  state  of  insanity. 
Long,  very  long,  it  was  ere  her  lacerated  mind  could  en- 
dure the  slightest  allusion  to  that  hour  ;  and  even  then  the 
wildest  spirit  of  vindictive  passion  that  ever  raved  in  the 
unsubdued  bosom  of  an  O'Neill  would  impetuously  break 
forth  as  she  looked  upon  her  sickly  child,  and  vowed  to 
train  him  for  the   work  of  vengeance.    And  well  was  she 
qualified  by  nature  for  such  a  preceptorship,  the  masculine 
strength  and  daring  of  her  character  having  been  conspicu- 
ous from  the  cradle.     But  better  things  were  in  store  for 
the  bereaved  and  desolate  sufferer:  her  deep  afflictions 
melted  the  heart  of  a  pious  minister,  who  had  brought  into 
a  strange  land  all  the  devoted  ardor  of  a  Scottish  Covenan- 
ter.    He  too  had  his  tale  of  wrongs  and  domestic  anguish 
to  tell ;  and  having  thus  engaged  her  sympathy,  he  turned 
to  the  best  and  holiest  of  purposes  the  advantage  gained. 
Before  his  white   hairs  descended  to   a  peaceful  grave, 
the  widow  of  M'Alister  was  enabled  to  cheer  his  dying 
pillow  with  those  sweet  words  of  gospel  promise  which 
had  sounded  strangely  to  her  ear  when  first  brought  under 
his  teaching :  and  the  boy  so  early  dedicated  to  the  work 
of  unhallowed  wrath,  was  trained,  and  lived,  and  died,  a 
meek  follower  of  his  compassionaie  Savior. 


20  DERRY. 

But  strong,  indelibly  strong,  was  the  impression  left  by 
that  fearful  scene  of  massacre  ;  and  her  mind  would  pon- 
der and  revolve  it,  under  every  change  of  character  and 
circumstance.  She  had  beheld  those  murderers  kneel  in 
prayer,  before  they  plunged  their  weapons  into  bosoms 
that  pleaded  for  them  with  their  last  throb — for  the  M'Alis- 
ters  were  more  than  nominally  Christians — and  she  had 
also  seen  and  heard  their  solemn  acts  of  thanksgiving  over 
the  mangled  bodies.  The  retrospection  led  to  deep  mu- 
sings on  the  nature  of  that  delusion  under  which  they  act- 
ed, and  the  Lady  of  M'Alister  had  achieved  the  noblest 
victory  that  human  nature  is  capable  of,  in  its  renewed 
and  sanctified  condition ;  for  her  keenest  wrongs  now 
formed  an  argument  wherewith  to  disarm  her  own  and 
others'  resentment  ;  and  she  dwelt  upon  them  but  as  an 
incentive  to  redoubled  exertion  in  rescuing  souls  from 
that  Mother  of  Abominations,  so  drunken  with  the  blood 
of  the  saints,  with  the  life-blood  of  all  that  had  been  most 
dear  to  her  own  agonized  bosom.  When  a  blessing  had 
been  given  to  her  zealous  and  patient  endeavors  for  the 
conversion  of  some  poor  ignorant  follower  of  Rome — and 
more  than  one  or  two  had  crowned  those  efforts — she  would 
smile,  and  say,  "  Behold  my  triumphant  revenge  for  the 
slaughter  of  my  house  1" 

It  will  not  be  doubted  that  the  progressive  advance  of 
James  II.  towards  a  re-establishment  of  Popery  had  excited 
in  her  mind  the  most  acute  and  painful  interest,  while  a 
just  view  of  what  the  Scriptures  inculcate  of  submission  to 
constituted  authorities  taught  her  to  shrink  from  tiie  pros- 
pect of  popular  insurrection  on  the  part  of  the  aggrieved 
Protestants.  The  act  of  abdication,  therefore,  by  which 
the  monarch  subsequently  vacated  his  throne,  she  hailed 
as  a  most  providential  interposition ;  the  very  name  of 
William  of  Nassau  sounding  in  her  ears  a  tale  of  hope  and 
joy.     Beneath  her  calm  deportment,  there  lay  concealed 


DERRY.  21 

an  anxiety  the  most  intense  ;  and  while  her  thoughts 
pursued,  with  eagle  glance,  the  relative  position  of  the 
contending  parties  throughout  the  British  Isles  ;  that  little 
spot  to  which  the  family  had  been  recently  removed,  ac- 
quired an  importance  abundantly  verified  by  the  sequel. 
She  doubted  not  but  that  a  perilous  fermentation  pervaded 
the  Scottish  clans,  and  that  to  secure  a  northern  point  of 
rapid  communication  between  that  country  and  Ireland, 
such  as  the  port  of  Derry  could  supply,  would  be  found 
essential  to  the  success  of  James,  who  had  sufficiently  shewn 
that  he  hoped  to  recover  by  force  what  in  a  moment  of 
panic  he  had  so  hastily  relinquished.  These  views  she  often 
communicated  to  her  little  family  circle,  as  an  incentive  to 
more  earnest  prayer,  since  nothing  short  of  divine  power 
could  interpose  between  the  project  and  its  accomplish- 
ment. Bryan  was  fully  convinced  that  she  predicted 
rightly  as  to  the  importance  of  that  post ;  and  the  subject 
was  frequently  canvassed  among  his  young  companions, 
who  entered  into  its  discussion  with  the  vivid  feelings  of 
men  whose  earthly  all  was  involved  in  the  question. 

Tyrconnel,  the  unprincipled  viceroy  of  James,  had,  in 
his  eagerness  to  swell  his  master's  disposable  forces,  with- 
drawn from  Derry  its  accustomed  garrison — a  welcome 
relief  to  the  minds  of  the  many  who  dreaded  such  defenders 
far  more  than  any  evils  from  which  they  might  assist  to 
shield  them.  Entire  subserviency  to  the  views  of  James 
had  rendered  these  troops  a  terror  to  their  Protestant  fel- 
low subjects  5  and  now,  whilst  almost  every  other  place  of 
note  was  strongly  garrisoned  by  the  partizans  of  James, 
Derry  enjoyed  the  singular  privilege  of  being  under  the 
guardianship  of  her  own  citizens.  Whispers  were  abroad 
in  the  streets  that  such  a  privilege  would  not  be  lightly 
relinquished  ;  and  looks  more  eloquent  than  words  gave 
frequent  pledge  of  mutual  fidelity,  as  from  their  barrier- 
3 


22  DERRY. 

walls  they  gazed  upon  the  winding  Foyle,  and  calculated 
the  strength  of  their  position.  But  these  were  ebullitions 
of  youthful  spirits,  extorting  the  smile  of  pity,  or  provok- 
ing the  rebuke  of  prudence,  from  their  more  experienced 
companions. 


CHAPTER    II. 


The  chills  of  December  were  now  striking  their  paraly- 
'zing  influence  into  every  department  of  the  natural  world, 
and  its  snows  began  to  whiten  on  the  neighboring  hills. 
The  Protestants  of  Derry  remained  unmolested,  but  con- 
scious that  perils  were  thickening  around  them  ;  the  nu- 
merous Roman  Catholics  within  its  walls  generally  wear- 
ing an  aspect  calculated  to  increase  the  perturbation,  and 
with  trembling  solicitude  was  the  appearance  of  Bryan 
M'Alister  hailed  whenever  he  approached  the  retired 
dwelling  of  his  kindred. 

Even  old  Shane  now  found  a  ready  audience  for  his 
exaggerated  reports  ;  and  it  was  with  no  slight  degree  of 
terror  that  Letitia  and  Ellen  beheld  him  break  abruptly 
into  their  sitting-room,  afrer  a  short  absence,  with  a  coun- 
tenance full  of  important  information. 

"  What  is  it,  Shane  1"  was  the  anxious  inquiry. 

Indeed,  and  it's  bad  enough  for  the  like  of  you  to 
hear,  poor  fatherless  cratures  that  ye  be  !  Its  out  and  out 
true,  that  next  Sunday,  the  ninth  of  this  very  month,  every 
Protestant  soul  will  be  murdered.  I'm  just  after  seeing 
the  letter  come  in  from  Enniskillen,  where  the  brave  lads 
are  defending  the  place  ;  and  there's  a  big  army  coming 
up  upon  us,  to  be  here  in  no  time  at  all ;  and  the  bloody 
Papists  whetting  their  knives  in  open  day,  all  over  the 


24  DERRY. 

town.     Musha,  but  we'll  be  all  slaughtered  like  a  flock  of 
sheep !" 

Before  the  old  man  could  recover  his  breath,  Bryan  en- 
tered :  his  countenance  was  pale,  but  an  air  of  fixed  de- 
termination pervaded  every  feature,  and  seemed  to  nerve 
his  whole  frame.  With  a  rapid,  but  silent  glance,  he 
scanned  the  agitated  circle,  and  then  rested  his  intelligent 
eyes  on  his  grandmother. 

"  It  is  true,"  he  said,  "  what  Shane  has  no  doubt  com- 
municated to  you.  A  plan  of  general  massacre  is  di- 
vulged, and  the  day  after  to-morrow  fixed  for  its  perpetra- 
tion. Lord  Antrim's  regiment  of  Irish  and  Scotch, 
alike  hostile  to  our  iaith,  is  on  the  advance  towards  us ; 
and  the  ferocious  soldiery  are  even  outnumbered  by 
more  furious  women  and  wild  young  boys,  armed  with 
skenes,  with  pikes,  and  whatsoever  instruments  of  destruc- 
tion they  can  get  hold  of." 

Ellen  flew  to  her  mother,  who  with  a  sigh  of  silent  des- 
pair clasped  her  arms  around  the  shuddering  girl.  Leti- 
tia  sunk  back  on  her  seat,  gazing  with  bewildered  looks 
from  one  to  the  other  of  the  party.  Bryan  remained,  his 
eyes  fastened  on  those  of  his  grandmother,  who  raised 
them  to  heaven,  while  Shane  exclaimed,  "  The  gates> 
Master  Bryan  ;  ye  were  talking  of  that." 

"  Of  the  gates  1"  said  the  old  lady,  casting  an  inquiring 
glance  at  her  grandson. 

"  There  was  a  talk  among  us  of  closing  them,"  said 
Bryan,  "  but  the  Corporation  checked  that  suggestion  ;  and 
yet — grandmother — where  the  means  are  at  hand" — He 
was  proceeding  in  a  tone  of  deepening  energy,  when  an- 
other young  man  of  the  city  rushed  into  the  house. 

"  M'Alister,"  he  exclaimed,  "  why  do  you  loiter  1  Our 
lives  hang  by  a  whisp  of  hay.  Those  white-livered  Al- 
dermen are  temporizing  and  higgling,  ready  enough  to 


DERRY.  25 

sacrifice  us  all  as  the  price  of  their  own  proper  immuni- 

ty." 

"  For  shame,  Ross,"  interrupted  Bryan'j  "you  wrong 
them." 

"  Then  let  thera  right  themselves,  the  calculating 
drones.  M'Alister,  do  you  flinch  1  You  were  forward 
enough  just  now.  Why,  man,  there  are  already  two  com- 
panies of  infernals  arrived  at  the  Water-side,  attended  by 
a  host  of  furies,  actually  drunk  with  rage,  and  yelling  for 
blood  J  while  the  little  butchering  ruffians,  boys  from 
eight  or  ten  years  old,  are  brandishing  their  knives,  and 
prepared  to  take  their  initiatory  lesson  in  the  art  of  tortur- 
ing from  their  more  practised  companions." 

"  Away  !"  exclaimed  Bryan ;  and  regardless  even  of 
the  cries  that  implored  his  return,  in  voices  so  dear  to 
him,  he  ran  off  at  full  speed  with  Ross. 

To  describe  the  state  of  the  city  is  utterly  impossible  ; 
groups  of  terrified  Protestants  were  seen  congregated  in 
the  streets,  their  low  whisper  and  sidelong  glance  of  half- 
suppressed  suspicion,  following  the  steps  of  every  neigh- 
bor who  held  the  contrary  persuasion.  Undissembled 
triumph  sat  on  the  features  of  the  many  friars  and  priests 
who,  in  evident  expectation,  paraded  the  town,  while,  in 
strong  contrast,  an  Episcopal  or  Presbyterian  minister,  with 
meek  resignation  pourtra3'ed  on  his  countenance,  might 
be  seen  encouraging  his  trembling  hearers  to  a  firmer 
trust  in  the  Most  High.  Others  of  the  clergy,  with  offi- 
cial men,  merchants,  and  here  and  there  a  military  officer, 
were  grouped  in  close  and  earnest  debate.  Rapidly  pass- 
ing by  these,  the  two  young  men  reached  that  quarter  of 
the  city  which  fronts  the  Foyle  ;  and  there,  on  the  oppo- 
site bank,  called  the  Water-side,  Bryan  beheld  an  ample 
confirmation  of  his  friend's  report. 

At  this  period,  the  two  officers  in  command  of  the  as- 
sailants were  crossing  the  river  in  a  ferry-boat,  for  the 
3* 


26  DERRY. 

purpose  of  demanding  admission  for  their  companies  ;  and 
these,  crowding  to  the  water's  edge,  presented  a  most  ap- 
palling spectacle  to  the  devoted  inhabitants.  Ross  had 
by  no  means  exaggerated  the  horrors  of  their  aspect.  A 
more  formidable  body  of  assailants  the  imagination  could 
not  picture.  Wild,  fierce,  and  restless,  their  very  look 
was  a  menace  j  and  the  regular  troops  were  mingled  with 
such  a  motle}'  crowd  as  gave  them  the  aspect  of  a  pro- 
miscuous' banditti,  while  the  impatient  gestures  and  shouts 
of  their  female  followers,  accompanied  by  an  immense 
number  of  young  boys,  exactly  answering  to  Ross's  des- 
cription, imparted  a  character  more  dreadful  than  could 
have  attached  to  a  regular  army  of  military  besiegers. 
The  object  of  their  cries — the  intent  with  which  those 
weapons  flashed  in  the  sun-beam — was  but  too  little  ques- 
tionable ;  and  maddening  were  the  thoughts  that  crowded 
upon  those  whose  domestic  circles  were  threatened  by  a 
visitation  so  horrible. 

Our  youths  found  themselves  surrounded  by  a  number 
of  lads  and  young  men,  apprenticed  to  the  different  mer- 
chants and  tradesmen  :  these  eagerly  greeted  their  arrival, 
and  pointed  to  the  opposite  side. 

"  It  cannot  be — it  shall  not  be,"  cried  Bryan  :  "  By 
timely  resistance  we  may  avoid  the  effusion  of  blood. 
Admit  those  forces  and  our  houses  will  be  deluged  in  the 
gore  of  their  inmates." 

"  To  the  gates,  boys !"  shouted  several  voices  ;  and  the 
mob  re-echoed  the  words. 

The  deputy-mayor  hastily  approached,  and  demanded 
that  the  cry  should  be  silenced. 

"Never  mind  him,  boys,"  said  Ross  :  "  he's  in  the  pay 
of  the  old  Papist.  Sheriff  Kennedy  tells  us  another 
story." 

~  The  courteous  reception  given  to  the  officers,  and  the 
manifest  determination  of  some  among  the  leading  men  to 


DERRY.  27 

admit  their  followers,  increased  the  irritation  of  the  ap- 
prentices;  nor  was  this  mitigated  when  they  perceived  the 
foremost  of  the  two  companies  already  in  the  act  of  cross- 
ing the  river,  to  force  admittance. 

"  Now,  or  never !"  was  ejaculated  by  the  agitated  look- 
ers on. 

Bryan's  mind  was  in  a  tumult  of  opposing  principles, 
and  harassing  doubts ;  how  far  they  should  be  justified  in 
resisting  what  would  soon  become  an  overwhelming  force, 
and  thus  increasing  the  certainty  of  slaughter,  was  a  mat- 
ter of  severe  perplexity  to  him.  But  then,  the  firm  con- 
viction that  their  city  was  formed  to  be  the  earthly  bul- 
wark of  a  righteous  cause,  an  assurance  that  there  was  no 
restraint  with  the  Lord,  to  save  by  many  or  by  few,  and 
the  evident  fact  that  butchery  would  be  retarded,  if  not  al- 
together averted,  by  a  measure  so  purely  defensive,  all 
wrought  with  him  to  obey  the  impulse  of  strong  natural 
feeling.  One  fervent  ejaculation  he  breathed  to  the  Help- 
er of  the  oppressed,  and  then  raising  his  voice  to  its  utmost 
pitch,  cried  out,  "  For  our  altars  and  our  homes !  To  the 
Guardhouse,  boys!  Seize  the  keys!"  and  away  they 
started. 

Some  severe  struggling  took  place,  before  the  keys  were 
wrested  from  those  who  had  them  in  charge  ;  but  the  ra- 
pid approach  of  the  soldiers,  to  within  three  hundred  yards 
of  the  gate,  nerved  every  arm  among  the  youthful  band  of 
resolute  defenders  with  supernatural  strength.  The  scuf- 
fle was  quickly  over,  the  keys  were  won ;  and  with  the 
rapidity  of  hounds  in  full  chace,  the  boys  rushed  to  the 
ferry-gate,  the  drawbridge  of  which  they  instantaneously 
drew  up  ;  and  as  the  massive  gates  swang  heavily  forward, 
and  the  coarse  key  grated  harshly  upon  its  wards,  it  told 
that  the  deed  was  done  ;  a  deed  to  which,  under  the  all- 
directing  power  of  the  Most  High,  may  doubtless,  in  some 


28  DERRY. 

measure,  be  traced  the  blessings  that  for  one  liundred  and 
forty  years  crowned  our  country.  A  deed  achieved  by 
unarmed  boys,  baffling  the  wily  counsels  of  kings,  imped- 
ing the  progress  of  victorious  armies,  setting  at  naught  the 
exterminating  thunders  of  vindictive  Rome,  and  proving 
by  what  seemingly  inefficient  means  the  Lord  of  Hosts 
wills  to  accomplish  the  dictates  of  Almighty  wisdom. 

At  the  moment  when  the  ferry-gate  was  closed,  Lord 
Antrim's  myrmidons  had  approached  within  sixty  yards  of 
its  portal.  The  other  city  gates  were  next  secured  and 
guarded  by  the  enthusiastic  spirit  of  those  who  volunteered 
for  the  duty.  The  hand  of  Bryan  had  been  conspicuous- 
ly active  in  assisting  to  perform  all  that  his  voice  counsel- 
led ;  and  he  now  led  back  his  exulting  comrades  to  the 
market  place :  whence,  after  a  vain  attempt  on  the  part  of 
the  Deputy  Mayor  to  induce  a  reception  of  the  enemy, 
they  again  sallied  to  repel  a  meditated  movement,  by 
which  their  exploit  would  have  been  rendered  unavailing, 
and  the  gates  thrown  open.  Popular  feeling  was  now  too 
strongly  excited  on  their  behalf  to  leave  any  doubt  of  the 
general  resolution  to  defend  the  city,  and  the  threat  of 
bringing  a  piece  of  ordnance  to  bear  on  the  intruders, 
sent  them  in  disorder  back  to  their  companions  ;  leaving 
the  town  to  the  guardian  protection  of  her  devoted  young 
apprentices. 

During  the  whole  of  this  tumultuous  scene,  old  Shane 
had  endeavored  to  keep  Bryan  in  his  view  ;  but  the  tot- 
tering limbs  of  the  veteran  were  unequal  to  the  task.  In- 
deed, the  celerity  of  the  young  man's  movements  was 
such,  that  to  Shane's  vision  he  appeared  as  a  flash  of  light- 
ning, or  rather  a  succession  of  flashes,  darting  along  vari- 
ous points  of  the  horizon.  However,  the  powerful  tones 
of  his  voice,  continually  rising  above  others,  as  he  shouted 
forth  the  words  of  direction  and  encouragement,  were 
faithfully  echoed  by  Shane,  whose  inmost  soul  revelled  in 


DERRY.  29 

the  luxury  of  what  he  considered  the  first  act  of  vengeance 
wrought  on  the  part  of  an  injured  family.  At  length  he 
bethought  himself  of  the  terrified  and  anxious  females,  to 
whose  abode  the  uproar  must  have  penetrated ;  and  he 
hobbled  away  from  the  scene  of  action,  to  place  before 
them  a  glowing  picture  of  Bryan's  achievements.  "  The 
raal  M'Alister ;  the  true  blood  of  him  that  was  now  re- 
venged." 

It  was  late  at  night  before  the  youth  could  snatch  an 
hour  to  satisfy  his  family  that  he  was  unhurt.  The  high- 
est animation  played  upon  his  features,  and  enlivened  every 
gesture,  as  he  explained  the  events  of  that  memorable  day : 
and  the  Lady  of  M'Alister  never  sate  m.ore  erect  in  native 
dignity  than  while  she  listened  to  his  accents,  and  marked 
the  strong  traits  of  a  character  endeared  by  cherished  re- 
membrances. Yet  a  tear  fell,  as  the  ejaculations  of  thank- 
fiilness  for  the  past,  and  earnest  supplication  for  the  future, 
ascended  from  her  lips  :  and  the  less  subdued  emotions  of 
the  mother  and  sisters,  who  hailed  in  their  most  endeared 
relative  a  deliverer  from  immediate  destruction,  sweetened 
Bryan's  hasty  meal  into  luxury.  But  in  the  open  expres- 
sion of  delight,  old  Shane  far  outdid  all  the  rest,  and  fi-e- 
quently  extorted  a  smile  by  the  extravagance  of  his  com- 
mendations on  the  heroes  of  the  day. 

"  What  are  you  dreaming  of,  Shane  ?"  asked  his  young 
master,  archly,  "  the  honor  and  glory  of  an  apprentice 
boyl" 

"  Hush,  my  child,"  said  the  Lady  of  M'Alister  :  "  and 
you  Shane  forbear  to  take  from  the  Lord  the  praise  which 
is  due  to  him  alone.  The  weakness,  the  inadequacy  of 
the  instruments  this  day  employed,  give  promise  that  the 
work  will  prove  to  have  been  of  God  :  and  if  so,  it  will  be 
a  mighty  and  a  perfect  work.  He  who  says  to  the  foam- 
ing billows,  '  Hitherto  shalt  thou  go,  and  no  farther :  here 
shall  thy  proud  waves  be  stayed,'  may  have  blessed  our 


30  DERRY. 

little  fortress  to  be  the  feeble  but  sufficient  barrier  against 
the  progress  of  His  church's  foes.  Here  he  may  be  about 
to  kindle  a  fire  through  which  they  cannot  pass  ;  a  fir« 
whose  intenseness  shall  try  us^  even  as  silver  is  tried.  We 
are  now  pent  up,  beset  by  open  foes,  and  in  manifest  peril 
of  being  surrounded  by  accumulating  hosts,  not  one  man 
of  whom  can  set  upon  us  to  hurt  us,  unless  the  Lord  give 
the  word.  Oh,  my  children  !  shall  we  trust  to  an  arm  of 
flesh,  and  cast  away  the  shield  of  the  Almighty,  by  boast- 
ing in  our  own  prowess  1  Let  us  rather  turn  unto  Him, 
in  weeping  and  supplication,  and  pray  that  in  these  kind- 
ling flames  we  may  be  purified,  and  made  white,  and  shine 
— for  in  the  straitness  of  this  siege,  the  slain  of  the  Lord 
shall  be  many."  She  then  read  the  first  two  chapters  of 
Joel,  and  offered  up  an  impressive  prayer. 

"  Grandmother,"  said  Bryan,  as  he  took  her  hands  on 
rising  to  depart,  "  when  I  ran  down  to  the  portal,  when  I 
laid  hold  on  the  pulleys  of  the  bridge,  when  I  lent  my 
strength  to  close  those  heavy  gates— the  sound  of  whose 
creaking  hinges  I  never,  never  shall  forget — the  prayer  of 
David  was  in  my  heart  and  on  my  lips,  '  Let  us  now  fall 
into  the  hand  of  the  Lord,  for  His  mercies  are  great :  and 
let  us  not  fall  into  the  hand  of  man !'  " 

"Peace  and  blessing  be  with  my  dear  boy  !"  she  re- 
plied ;  and  the  tears  of  all  mingled  on  his  cheek,  as  they 
bade  him  a  reluctant  farewell. 

"Heaven  bless  her  ladyship  !"  muttered  Shane,  as  he 
secured  the  door,  after  wringing  his  young  master's  offer- 
ed hand,  "the  like  of  her  isn't  above  ground  for  throwing 
a  wet  blanket.  And  she's  right,  too,  I'm  entirely  certain, 
in  respect  to  the  siege  ;  tor  when  the  Boys  slammed  the 
creaking  ould  gates  in  the  faces  of  yon  spalpeens,  thinks  I, 
its  your  heart's  blood  that  '11  spout  upon  'em  yet,  jewels  of 
the  world  \  And  Shane  O'Connogher's  old  ears  will  tin- 
gle, when  your  merry  voices  are  turned  into  dying  groans, 


DERRY.  31 

and  the  roar  of  big  guns  be  your  ullaloo !"  And,  over- 
come with  the  picture  that  his  fancy  drew,  he  slunk  away 
to  his  little  dormitory. 

During  the  night  considerable  tumult  prevailed  in  the 
city,  and  with  dawning  day  it  arose  to  a  higher  swell ;  and 
agitating  was  the  anxiety  of  the  M'Alisters,  as  they  sat  in 
desponding  silence,  bending  many  an  impatient  look  on 
the  door. 

Suddenly,  the  loud  report  of  two  cannon,  successively 
discharged  from  the  walls,  preceded  and  followed  by  most 
exulting  shouts,  sent  a  tremor  through  every  frame.  Old 
Shane,  who  had  reluctantly  consented  to  keep  guard  over 
the  household,  started  and  threw  back  his  head,  as  the  aged 
war-horse,  who  smells  the  battle  afar  off.  The  sisters 
drew  nearer  to  each  other,  and  gazed  with  fearful  expecta- 
tion on  the  opening  door.  Never  had  the  protecting  arms  of 
their  brother  been  so  welcome  as  now,  when,  bursting  into 
the  room,  every  feature  irradiate  with  joy,  he  embraced 
them,  and  exclaimed,  "  The  post  has  brought  us  glorious 
news :  not  only  has  the  Prince  of  Denmark  declared  for 
William  of  Nassau,  but  many  a  proud  name  of  English 
rank  and  influence  swells  the  roll  of  his  adherents.  Our 
own  Ormonde  has  ranged  his  true  men  under  the  banner 
of  Orange  ;  and  the  tide  of  popular  feeling  runs  steadily 
along,  promising  victory  and  peace." 

Ejaculations  of  delight  and  thanksgiving  followed  the 
welcome  communication.  "  But  the  guns,  brother !"  said 
Ellen. 

"  Merely  a  shot  in  honor  of  our  deliverer ;  but  I  did 
not  stay  to  witness  its  effect  on  the  gentry  over  the  water ; 
so  anxious  was  I  to  be  the  bearer  of  welcome  news.  And 
now  have  I  earned  my  breakfast  1" 

"  What !  fasting  yet,  my  poor  boy  1"  said  his  mother,  as 
she  eagerly  advanced  to  her  little  stores. 

"  That's  right.  Master  Bryan,"  said  Shane  with  great 


32  DERRY. 

emphasis,  "  Eating  is  the  last  thing  in  life  that  a  soldier 
should  think  about.  But  is  it  you  that  have  been  on  guard 
all  night,  avourneen  "?" 

"  Sure,  and  I  have,  Shane,  who  should  keep  the  gates 
but  the  boys  that  shut  them  1" 

"  True  for  ye  :  and  have  you  mustered  the  garrison  V 

"  Aye,  and  a  bare  three  hundred  of  fighting  men  can  we 
number,  for  the  defence  of  our  good  town." 

"  Say  three  hundred  and  one,  Sir ;"  exclaimed  Shane, 
as  he  drew  himself  into  an  upright  position. 

"  Three  hundred  and  one,  then :  and  to  arm  these  we 
have  made  free  to  open  the  magazine,  and  have  taken  out 
muskets  for  about  half  that  number :  how  to  equip  the  rest, 
we  know  not.  But  that  cowardly  rabble  before  the  walls 
cannot  face  the  report  of  a  child's  pop-gun.  Shoulder  the 
poker,  Shane,  ready — present — and  off  they  will  scamper." 

"  Beware,  my  child,  of  viewing  these  things  too  lightly," 
said  his  grandmother.  "Victorious  moments  are  moments 
of  temptation,  when  a  vain-glorious  spirit  is  too  apt  to 
taint  the  Christian's  joy.  For  our  sins  is  the  chastisement 
sent :  and  no  race  of  beings,  no  reptile,  no  insect,  too 
mean  to  execute  the  judgments  of  the  Lord,  where  he  wills 
to  smite.  Frogs,  flies,  and  lice  were  made  effectual  to 
scourge  the  pride  of  warlike  Egypt." 

Bryan  assented  :  and  united  prayer  was  then  engaged  in, 
led  by  the  venerable  Lady.  Fervently  did  she  supplicate 
that  the  Lord  would  look  favorably  on  his  little  Zion,  and 
be  to  them  a  strong  hold  in  that  their  day  of  adversity.  A 
touching  recurrence  to  past  scenes  melted  every  heart ;  and 
if  one  thing  beyond  all  others,  characterized  those  prayers, 
it  was  the  energetic  pleading  for  every  single  soul  among 
the  thousands  then  thirsting  for  Protestant  blood. 

Immediately  on  rising,  the  lady  withdrew  to  her  apart- 
ment, and  brought  forth  the  antique  arms  of  her  slaugh- 
tered husband.     She  had,  on  that  morning,  opened  a  chest, 


DERRY.  33 

which  for  many  a  long  year  had  remained  unexplored  ; 
and  often  had  it  excited  the  curiosity  of  the  young  people, 
as  they  remarked  the  jealous  care  with  which  its  pos- 
sessor kept  it  under  her  immediate  guardianship.  The  ob- 
jects now  presented  to  their  eyes  were  new  to  them  :  but 
a  heavy  groan  from  poor  old  Shane  bespoke  his  recogni- 
tion of  the  broad  sword,  from  whose  hilt  of  costly  work- 
manship depended  a  knot,  deeply  incrusted  with  gore.  A 
belt  of  black  leather,  much  embrowned  with  age,  trailed 
along  the  ground  ;  and  a  brace  of  pistols,  superbly  mounted 
with  silver,  completed  a  burden  almost  two  heavy  for  the 
arms  that  trembled  as  they  bore  it.  Bryan  hastened  to 
take  the  weapons ;  and  his  knee  involuntarily  touched  the 
ground,  as  he  kissed  the  hands  that  yielded  them.  His 
heart  was  two  full  for  any  other  expression  of  thankful- 
ness. 

"  Take  them,  my  beloved  child  ;  and  may  the  sight  of 
them  soften  your  heart." 

"  Soften  his  heart !"  ejaculated  Shane  indignantly." 
"Aye,  Shane  O'Connogher,  soften  his  heart.  He  who 
wielded  that  sword,  my  noble  and  faithful  M'Alister,  was 
laid  low  by  pitiless  assassins.  The  stain  on  this  knot, 
Bryan,  was  from  the  heart's  blood  of  your  gallant  grand- 
father— but,"  and  she  laid  her  hand  on  his  ai'm,  and  spoke 
with  awM  solemnity — "  but,  Bryan,  where  are  the  mur- 
derers now  1  Misled  by  treacherous  guides,  who  assumed 
to  teach  them  the  way  to  heaven,  they  verily  believed 
that  in  this  work  of  butchery  they  wrought  their  own  sal- 
vation. They  are  gone  !  The  blind  and  guilty  followers 
of  leaders  more  guilty,  because  less  blind,  they  are  swal- 
lowed up  in  the  pit  of  eternal  woe.  Oh,  my  children, 
follow  them  in  thought  to  that  unchangeable  state — hear 
their  groans — behold  the  smoke  of  their  torment — and 
each  vindictive  feeling  shall  be  hushed  beneath  the  power 
of  Him  who  alone  maketh  us  to  differ.  Aye,  and  I  too 
4> 


34  DERRY. 

have  lisped  In  childhood  the  prayer  for  extermination  of 
all  who  differed  from  her  who  is  drunken  with  the  blood  of 
the  saints.  In  this  juncture,  Bryan,  you  must  needs  bear 
arms  :  but  may  that  blade  remain  in  your  hand  innoxious, 
as  it  has  lain  for  half  a  century  :  and  never  may  those  bar- 
rels send  a  message  of  death  to  one  soul  unprepared  for 
the  awful  summons  !" 

It  is  not  our  purpose  to  furnish  a  chronicle  of  this  mem- 
orable siege,  of  which  the  annals  are,  or  ought  to  be,  familiar 
to  every  one  who  loves  to  trace  the  hand  of  God,  mani- 
fested in  signal  mercies  to  his  church,  and  to  our  nation — 
mercies,  in  whose  warm  blaze  a  heedless  posterity  has 
basked,  until  the  suff*erings  are  well  nigh  forgotten  that 
taught  their  ancestors  wisdom,  warning  them  to  repel  the 
encroaching  billows  of  antichristian  rage. 

Unappalled  by  the  menacing  aspect  of  his  indignant 
subjects,  James  Stuart  had  pursued  his  darling  scheme. 
He  sought  to  force  upon  them  that  detested  yoke  under 
which  their  progenitors  had  perished  in  the  flames  of 
Smithfield:  nor  could  the  unequivocal  symptoms  of  popu- 
lar resentment  stay  his  course.  It  would  be  difficult  to 
credit  the  existence  of  such  infatuation,  did  not  the  history 
of  other  lands  furnish  us  with  abundant  proof  that  Popery 
is,  and  ever  must  be,  unchanged  in  its  spirit,  uniform  in  its 
manifestations,  wheresoever  it  can  find  meet  tools  to  work 
with  :  sternly  resolved  to  rear  its  throne  upon  the  prostrate 
rights  of  millions  ;  aye,  and  to  cement  that  fabric  with 
their  blood,  should  outraged  humanity  but  dare  to  lift  an 
appealing  hand  against  its  galling  pressure. 

Panic  struck,  the  unhappy  James  had  abandoned  for  a 
while  his  project,  and  retreated  to  a  foreign  shore  ;  but 
goaded  onward  by  his  remorseless  advisers,  he  had  re- 
sumed the  enterprise,  and  thrown  himself  upon  the  fidelity 
of  his  Irish  subjects,  rightly  calculating  on  the  fervency 
with  which  the  great  majority  would  adhere  to  his  cause. 


LERRY.  35 

The  very  appointment  of  Tyrconnel  to  the  vicegerency 
of  their  country,  had  struck  such  terror  into  the  Irish  Pro- 
testants, that  on  learning  it,  no  fewer  than  fifteen  hundred 
had  accompanied  the  Earl  of  Clarendon  from  their  own 
shore,  self-doomed  to  voluntary  exile  ;  nor  had  the  subse- 
quent acts  of  this  governor  tended  to  lessen  the  odium  in 
which  he  was  held  by  the  feebler  party.  The  recent 
death  of  the  famous  Duke  of  Ormonde — a  name  that  ought 
to  live  enshrined  in  every  Irish  heart — had  increased  the 
helpless  despair  of  all  who  desired  peace.  Even  in  ex- 
treme age,  that  nobleman,  who,  like  a  stately  tree,  seemed 
to  have  been  planted  for  the  shelter  of  his  native  soil,  could 
inspire  confidence  in  their  minds :  while  Ormonde  yet 
lived,  Ireland  had  a  champion,  and  a  friend.  But  he  was 
gathered  to  his  fathers  just  previous  to  the  event  which 
armed  Tyrconnel  with  augmented  power  of  mischief.  Nev- 
er did  a  purer  spirit  of  disinterested  patriotism  animate  the 
mind  of  man,  than  that,  which,  during  the  fifty-four  years 
of  his  public  life,  had  endeared  the  Duke  of  Ormonde  to 
his  suffering  country.  Poor  Ireland  has  had  many  mas- 
ters ;  but  alas,  how  small  the  number  of  her  friends  !  A 
Butler,  a  Bedell,  and  a  Boyle,  do  indeed  shine  forth,  dur- 
ing this  the  cloudiest  period  of  her  troubled  history  ;  and 
while  the  former,  blazing  through  her  political  heavens, 
scared  many  a  vampire  from  his  accustomed  feast,  the 
two  latter  applied  themselves  to  the  sacred  task  of  clear- 
ing away  those  mists  which  hid  the  Sun  of  Righteousness 
from  her  spiritual  discernment,  by  clothing  in  the  garb  of 
native  language  the  word,  whose  entrance  giveth  light — 
light  to  them  that  sit  in  darkness,  and  the  shadow  of  death, 
that  it  may  guide  their  feet  into  the  way  of  peace. 

Ireland,  poor,  suffering,  guilty,  Ireland !  If  the  hand  that 
traces  these  lines  might  but  be  so  directed,  as  to  kindle  a 
flame  of  pure  love  and  glowing  zeal  on  thy  behalf,  it 
might  contentedly  rest  from  its  labors,  to  moulder  in  the 


36  DERRY. 

dust  of  the  grave.  From  every  former  attempt,  by 
whomsoever  made,  to  promote  this  object,  little  else  has 
arisen  than  a  blinding  smoke,  yet  farther  to  darken  and 
confuse  the  judgment  of  thy  friends.  It  is  among  thine 
own,  thy  native  children,  that  every  evil  fixes  its  deep 
root,  and  defies  alike  the  arm  of  force,  and  the  voice  of 
persuasion  to  remove  it.  And  wherefore !  Because  we 
are  too  proud,  too  obstinately  prejudiced  to  opinion,  to  sit 
down  among  the  Irish  race,  and  address  them  in  a  tongue 
that  sounds  of  home  and  kindred,  and  every  endearing 
sympathy  to  which  their  hearts  can  vibrate.*  No :  we 
hail  them  in  a  language  that  to  their  jealous  partialities 
speaks  of  conquest  and  defiance,  as  though  we  treated 
with  a  vanquished  enemy,  willing  rather  to  fix  the  yoke 
ol  despotism  on  his  neck,  than  to  clasp  his  hand  in  the 
fellowship  of  Christian  love.  We  mean  it  not  so  j  but  so 
he  is  taught  to  regard  it ;  and  what  avail  our  good  inten- 
tions, if  our  stubborn  prejudice  still  neutralize  the  effort  1 
For  nearly  seven  centuries  has  the  victim  bled  beneath 
our  hand,  through  the  inefficiency  of  our  ill-devised  styp- 
tics ;  and  miserably  futile  will  the  remedy  be  found, 
which  political  wisdom  has  recently  applied.  England 
has  long  squandered  her  millions,  and  all  her  costly  sacri- 
fices have  been  vain.  And  though  her  frantic  despera- 
tion lead  her,  like  the  priests  of  Baal;  to  lacerate  her  own 
flesh,  while  trampling  on  the  altars  of  her  national  faith, 
the  power,  whose  aid  she  supplicates,  can  yield  no  an- 
swering sign.     The  God  of  Israel  must  be  invoked,  and 

*  Let  it  be  remarked — let  it  be  remembered,  that  at  the  pres- 
ent  moment,  there  are  still  between  two  and  three  millions  of  na- 
tive Irish,  so  wedded  to  the  ancient  or  Celtic  tongue,  that  to  their 
affections  no  appeal  can  be  made  in  any  other  language,  with  a 
reasonable  prospect  of  success.  See  a  powerful  and  convincing 
work, entitled,  "  Historical  Sketches  of  the  Native  Irish  and  their 
Descendants,  By  Christopher  Anderson." 


DERRY.  37 

that  according  to  His  own  appointment :  then,  and  never 
till  then,  shall  hallowed  fire  descend,  consuming  the  body 
of  sin,  absorbing  the  waters  ot  strife,  confounding  every 
delusive  idol,  and  causing  the  multitude  with  one  tongue 
to  exclaim,  "  the  Lord  he  is  the  God." 

Had  the  rod  no  voice,  that  came  so  heavily  on  the  Protes- 
tants of  Ireland  in  1641,  and  was  again  uplifted  after  the 
lapse  of  forty-seven  years  1  Derry,  which  as  we  have 
seen,  could  enrol  but  three  hundred  men  capable  of  bear- 
ing arms,  when  her  gates  were  so  intrepidly  closed  against 
the  enemy,  became  in  a  short  time  the  great  rallying 
point  of  Protestant  fugitives  in  the  North.  Lord  Mount- 
joy  having  been  sent  from  Dublin  with  six  companies  for 
the  purpose  of  reducing  the  intrepid  little  garrison  to  obe- 
dience, the  towns-people  had  gladly  received  him,  and 
two  companies  composed  of  Protestants,  to  strengthen 
their  citadel,  placing  full  confidence  in  that  upright  no- 
bleman. A  foul  stratagem  on  the  part  of  Tyrconnel  re- 
called, and  betrayed  him  to  a  lingering  imprisonment  in 
France  5  but  not  until  he  had  placed  the  defence  of 
Derry  on  a  more  solid  footing ;  leaving  Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Lundy  invested  with  the  chief  command.  In  this 
officer,  Tyrconnel  possessed  a  disguised,-  but  most  efficient 
tool  for  his  worst  purposes  :  yet  even  here,  the  Lord  won- 
derfully over-ruled  their  devices ;  for  on  the  admission  of 
some  additional  forces,  the  citizens,  with  equal  spirit  and 
judgment,  selected  from  among  them  those  whose  religion 
furnished  a  guarantee  for  their  fidelity,  and  expelled  the 
remainder :  Lundy  not  daring  to  unmask  his  actual  char- 
acter, by  offering  opposition  to  their  unanimous  decrees. 


CHAPTER  III. 


Patiently  enduring  their  share  of  the  general  calamity, 
the  family  of  M'Alister  continued  retired  from  public  ob- 
servation, quietly  pursuing  such  works  of  beneficence  as 
their  means  admitted.  Many  a  fainting  heart  was  cheer- 
ed by  the  bare  sight  of  such  uncomplaining  fortitude,  such 
cheerful  submission,  as  shone  on  the  now  pale  countenan- 
ces of  that  unobtrusive  group  :  for  even  Letitia  and  Ellen 
had  already  lost  tlie  healthful  bloom ;  while  Bryan's 
looks  bore  witness  to  the  effect  of  sleepless  nights  and 
days  of  care.  Considerable  notice  had  been  attracted  by 
his  conduct,  during  the  period  when  the  defence  of  their 
town  might  be  said  to  rest  entirely  on  the  apprentices : 
and  since  the  appointment  of  military  officers  over  an 
augmented  force,  his  counsel  had  been  sought,  and  his  co- 
operation thankfully  accepted  by  men  of  far  greater  expe- 
rience than  himself.  Lundy,  observing  his  deserved  pop- 
ularity, failed  not  to  affect  considerable  deference  to  his 
opinions,  and  sought  every  means  of  attaching  him  to  his 
interests ;  but  Bryan  marked  with  latent  suspicion  his  wi- 
ly course,  and  never  could  shake  off  the  unwonted  reserve 
of  manner,  which  repelled  the  governor's  advances.  To 
his  friend  Ross,  he  once  began  to  hint  these  doubts  ;  but 
the  impetuous  young  man,  thoroughly  persuaded  of  Lun- 
dy's  sincerity,  gave  him  no  encouragement  to  proceed. 


DERRY.  39 

It  was,  therefore,  with  no  small  surprise  that  at  the  end  of 
a  few  weeks,  Bryan  beheld  Ross  enter  his  mother's  dwel- 
ling with  high  displeasure  on  his  countenance,  scarcely 
permitting  himself  to  be  seated  before  he  proclaimed  his 
conviction,  that  Lundy  was  a  traitor  and  deserved  the  gal- 
lows :  adding,  "  This  very  day  has  the  fellow  issued  an 
order  to  prohibit  us  from  keeping  our  accustomed  guard  ; 
taking  the  defence  of  the  city  out  of  our  hands  altogeth- 
er." 

*"  "  That  will  not  be  submitted  to,"  remarked  Bryan, 
coloring. 

"  I  trow  not:"  replied  the  other;  "but  unless  a  few  of 
the  boys  take  heart,  and  pitch  him  into  the  Foyle,  I  see 
not  how  we  can  be  rid  of  him.  Then,  there  is  a  mis- 
chievous spirit  at  work  among  the  Presbyterians,  who  tell 
us  to  our  faces,  that  all  these  troubles  are  the  consequence 
of  our  refusing  to  take  the  covenant,  which  they  seem 
pretty  well  disposed  to  ram  down  our  throats.  In  truth, 
there  is  no  trusting  any  body ;  and  I  begin  to  think  of 
stealing  a  march  to  join  the  brave  lads  of  Enniskillen." 

"  Patience,  Ross,"  said  Bryan,  "  We  all  have  our  diffi- 
culties to  encounter,  and  must  not  be  lightly  discouraged. 
Our  troubles  are  but  commencing,  and  surely  we  who 
struck  the  tirst  blow,  should  be  the  last  to  lain  away." 

Ross  nodded  assent :  and  glancing  round,  remarked  with 
affectionate  concern,  that  no  one  present  was  looking  so 
well  as  he  wished. 

"  How  can  we  look  well,  Mr.  Ross,"  said  Ellen,  "  when 
we  are  shut  up  like  birds  in  a  cage  1  However,  I  assure 
you  that  we  chirp  and  sing  sometimes  ;  and  though  it  is 
seldom  that  a  ray  of  sunshine  contrives  to  creep  through 
the  comer  pane  of  that  ugly  casement,  we  feel  the  com- 
forting beams  of  a  better  Sun,  and  can  rejoice." 

"  And  yet,"  said  Ross,  "it  is  to  yourself  that  the  change 
appears  most  injurious." 


40  DERRY. 

"  Oh,  don't  say  so !"  exclaimed  her  mother  anxiously. 
"And  why  should  he  not  say  so,  my  love  1"  asked  the 
old  lady  :  "  have  we  not  made  the  same  remark  to  each 
other  5  and  is  not  our  Ellen  conscious  of  it  1  How  weak  is 
our  faith,  that  in  the  midst  of  such  peril,  yet  shrinks  from 
committing  a  treasure  into  safe  keeping — to  shelter  a  lamb 
in  the  Shepherd's  bosom,  ere  the  wolves  break  into  the 
fold !" 

"  Dear  lady,"  exclaimed  Ross,  "  we  will,  by  God's 
help,  keep  the  wolves  at  bay  yet.  Returning  spring  will 
give  you  to  liberty  and  security." 

"  I  cannot  think  it :  I  see  no  token  of  aught  but  coming 
judgment ;  and  your  own  tidings  confirm  it.  When 
hands  that  should  be  raised  in  united  supplication  are  well 
nigh  lifted  up  to  smite  in  wrathful  debate,  the  arm  of  the 
Lord  will  assuredly  descend  to  chastise  the  pride  of  man. 
Disunion  among  the  people  of  God  is  ever  the  precursor 
of  judgment.  Let  professors  lay  to  heart  the  lesson,  that 
we  shall  yet  receive  ;  for  Christians  thus  unnaturally  sepa- 
rating must  be  melted  into  one  by  the  intense  fires  of  His 
wrath,  whose  holy  name  and  cause  are  blasphemed  through 
their  unseemly  disputes." 

At  this  moment  a  young  minister  of  the  Scottish  church 
entered  the  apartment ;  and  the  Lady  immediately  repeat- 
ed to  him  her  last  remark. 

"  I  do  not,"  said  he,  "  view  the  matter  in  precisely  the 
same  strong  light.  Discussion  is  unavoidable,  where  men 
are  diligently  searching  for  truth  ;  and  to  restrain  it  would 
be  to  bow  us  beneath  a  yoke  incompatible  with  Christian 
liberty." 

"And  is  not  truth  recognized,  and  proclaimed  by  both 
our  churches,  Mr.  Malcolm  1"  asked  Mrs.  M'Alister, 

"  Unquestionably,  the  broad  basis  of  eternal  truth  sup- 
ports either  fabric  :  it  is  perspicuously  set  forth  in  our  re- 
spective confessions,  and  personally  apprehended,  as  I  trust, 


DERRY.  41 

both  by  you  and  by  me,  through  the  enlightening  grace  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  making  known  to  us  the  fulness  of  the  sal- 
vation that  is  in  Christ  Jesus;  implanting  faith,  which 
worketh  by  love,  producing  the  fruits  of  righteousness,  to 
the  glory  of  Him  w^ho  is  the  sole  ground  of  our  hope.  But 
beyond  this  there  lies  many  a  question." 

"  Alas,  yes !"  interrupted  the  Lady,  "  many  a  question 
gendering  strife,  and  sapping  in  the  bud  those  fruits  of 
which  you  speak.  Why  stand  we  thus  in  jeopardy  every 
hour,  exposed  to  the  violence  of  unchristian  men,  but  be- 
cause the  church,  divinely  commissioned  to  preach  the 
Gospel  to  every  creature,  has  loitered  by  the  way,  entang- 
ling her  feet  m  snares  laid  by  the  rulers  of  the  darkness  of 
this  world  1  Think  you  not  the  enem}''  of  souls  would 
prefer  that  you  and  I  engaged  in  some  discussion,  profit- 
able, it  may  be,  to  our  individual  growth  in  knowledge, 
rather  than  that  we  sallied  forth  to  invade  his  reign  in  the 
dark  places  of  our  land,  proclaiming  deliverance  to  his 
captives,  and  the  opening  of  the  prison  to  those  whom  he 
hath  bound  1  Oh,  it  is  a  question  of  awful  import,  how 
far  we  can  be  doing  the  will  of  God,  when  occupied  as 
Satan  would  prefer  to  behold  us !" 

"  Would  you  then  prohibit  all  advance,  beyond  the  ac- 
quisition of  first  principles  V 

"  Not  so :  but  I  guard  against  the  selfishness  that  w^ould, 
even  in  spiritual  things,  eat  its  morsel  alone,  and  not  in- 
vite the  fatherless  to  partake  in  it.  I  would  bear  in  mind, 
that  I  may  '  understand  all  mysteries  and  all  know- 
ledge,' and  yet  be  nothing,  if  lacking  charity — that  grace 
which  seeks  the  welfare  of  every  soul  around.  I  would 
evermore  desire  to  grow  in  grace,  and  in  knowledge  too ; 
but  the  tree  grows  by  watering,  and  what  is  the  promise  '? 
'  he  that  watereth  shall  himself  also  be  watered.'  After 
higher  attainments  we  should  constantly  aspire ;  but 
'  whereunto  we  have  already  attained,  let  us  walk  by  the 


42  DERRY. 

same  rule,'  and  impart  to  others  the  gifts  vouchsafed  unto 
ourselves,  so  far  as  means  will  effect  it." 

"  Were  this  rule  followed,"  said  Bryan,  "  every  Chris- 
tian would  become  a  missionar}^,  within  his  own  sphere : 
and  who  shall  calculate  the  blessedness  that  would  result, 
if  even  in  our  own  poor  country  alone,  such  were  the  gen- 
eral feeling  among  Christians  '\  JMay  the  Lord  give  me 
grace  diligently  to  communicate  the  little  that  I  know, 
relying  on  His  inexhaustible  treasury  for  a  more  abundant 
supply!" 

"  Amen  !"  uttered  Malcolm.  "  I  never  enter  this  abode, 
but  1  find  myself  under  an  humbling  dispensation,  and  im- 
bibe somewhat  of  quickening  zeal  to  cheer  me  on  my 
way.  Thus  my  experience  certainly  furnishes  a  power- 
ful argument  in  favor  of  your  doctrine,  albeit,  I  some- 
times doubt  whether  it  savors  not  of  works." 

"Works!"  exclaimed  the  Lady  of  M'Alister,  "and 
who,  being  called  into  the  vineyard,  shall  dare  refuse  to 
work  there  1  Shall  the  justifying  righteousness  of  Christ, 
by  which  alone  we  stand,  become  the  plea  of  indolence  \ 
Put  forth  your  whole  strength,  bend  every  faculty  of  mind 
and  body  to  the  task  of  working  while  yet  it  is  day  ;  and 
fear  not  but  when  the  night  cometh,  you  shall  smite  upon 
your  breast,  as  an  unprofitable  servant,  and  lay  hold,  in 
utter  self-despair,  on  the  satisfying  obedience  of  the  Sa- 
vior." 

The  contentious  spirit  of  the  day,  excited  by  Tyrcon- 
nel's  secret  emissaries,  found  no  abode  in  the  bosom  of 
Malcolm.  His  character,  formed  among  the  covenanters 
of  the  North,  exhibited  indeed  much  of  the  inflexibility 
produced  by  being  rooted  in  that  region  of  storms  ;  nor  did 
he  participate  in  the  scruples  which  shrank  from  resisting 
an  ungodly  ruler.  Naturally  bold  and  enterprising,  he 
loved  to  breast  the  opposing  wave,  to  encounter  obstacles  > 
and  triumph  over  difficulties,  alike  in  temporal  and  spirit" 


DERRY.  43 

ual   experience.     This  habitual  bias  frequently  led  him 
from  the   even  path  of  Christian  usefulness,  into  heights 
and  depths  of  speculative  inquiry,  where  few  could  follovv' 
him :  and  thus,  consciously  pre-eminent,  he  occupied  a 
station  in  that  little  circle  of  theologians,  perilous  to  man, 
as  tending  to  foster  that  carnal  pride  which  never  ceases 
to  struggle  against  the  humbling  grace  of  God,  in  the  heart 
even  of  the  regenerate.     The  Lady  of  M'Alister  perceived 
the  snare,  and  Malcolm  had  accurately  described  the  con- 
stant tenor  of  her  discourse,  when  he  called  his  visits  to 
her  house  humbling  dispensations.     Fully  aware  that  she 
was  competent  to   engage  with  a  high  relish  in  those  ab- 
struse questions  and  subtle  disquisitions  which  he  so  great- 
ly valued,  he  could  not  but  marvel  at  her  unvarying  self- 
denial,  her  earnest  endeavors    to  win  him  back  to  the 
simplicity  of  all-sufficient   truth.     Her   counsel  he  had 
found  to  be  salutary,  her  example  stimulating ;  and  often 
did  he  close  some  favorite  volume  of  systematic  divinity, 
to  pocket  his  little  Bible,  and  sally  forth  on  a  mission  of 
mercy  to  such  lowly  and  obscure  abodes  as  had  escaped 
his  observation,  until  the  Lady  told  some  tale  of  suffering 
poverty,  or  conscious  guilt,  shrouding  its  inmate  from  the 
public   eye.     The   frequent  accession,  both  of  military 
forces,  and  panic-struck  individuals,  seeking  a  shelter  with- 
in its  walls,  had  now  supplied  the  city  with  an  overflowing 
population :   and  so  urgent  was  the  call  upon  the  few  de- 
voted ministers  of  Christ,  that  he,  who  truly  and  eminent- 
ly merited  that  appellation,  found  his  hands  perpetually 
full.     Bryan,  witnessing  the  indefatigable  labors  of  one, 
who  was  too  apt  to  stigmatize  as  legal  the  more  practical 
exhortations  of  his  brethren,  used  to  remark,  that  the  only 
charge  to  be  brought  against  Malcolm  was  the  reverse  of 
that  reproach  too  often  deservedly  incurred  by  his  clerical 
brethren — he  needed  but  to  preach  what  he  practised  to 
render  him  an  invaluable  divine. 


44  DERRY. 

The  visits  of  this  young  pastor  were  indeed  a  welcome 
refreshment  to  the  afflicted  family  ;  for  it  could  not  be  but 
that  the  scenes  surrounding  them  should  recal  to  the  elder 
branches  many  a  heart-rending  occurrence  of  former  days. 
Old  Shane  was  rendered  irritable  by  the  weakness  of  his 
frame,  unable  to  follow  the  dictates  of  a  spirit  still  ardent — a 
mind  devoted  to  the  cause  for  which  he  passively  suffered, 
while  his  younger  comrades  toiled  and  triumphed  in  it. 
The  unsubdued,  unsanctified  character  of  this  faithful  ad- 
herent occasioned  many  pangs  to  the  bosom  of  his  mis- 
tress, who  mourned  over  the  hardness  of  a  heart  so  impen- 
etrable to  divine  grace,  while  overflowing  with  reverential 
love  towards  herself.  To  this  were  added  the  forebodings 
of  a  mind  accustomed  to  look  more  deeply  into  passing 
events,  and  to  augur  more  correctly  of  theii-  probable  con- 
sequences, than  those  around  her.  Intense  anxiety  for 
her  children  depressed  the  spirits  of  the  younger  Mrs. 
M'Alister,  and  rendered  her  incompetent  to  the  task  of 
encouraging  others :  while  Letitia  and  Ellen,  the  latter  of 
whom  perceptibly  declined,  were  losing  all  their  youthful 
elasticity  of  spirit,  and  rendering  more  apparent  that  loss 
by  ineffectual  efforts  to  force  a  cheerful  aspect,  while  their 
tender  hearts  were  writhing  under  natural  terror.  To 
them  the  lofty  tone  of  confident  assurance,  which  Mal- 
colm sometimes  indulged  in,  came  as  a  vivifying  cordial : 
and  in  this  light,  their  grandmother  not  only  sanctioned, 
but  encouraged  it ;  regarding  it  as  rich  wine,  mercifully 
provided  to  make  glad  the  heart  of  man  in  his  seasons  of 
overwhelming  oppression. 

Of  Bryan's  troubles,  the  greatest  was  his  deep  distrust 
of  Lundy,  and  the  apprehension  of  some  treacherous  un- 
der-current, baffling  the  honest  efforts  of  his  unsuspecting 
companions :  the  act  however,  by  which  Boss  had  been 
similarly  alarmed,  manifestly  increased  the  secret  misgiv- 
ings of  some,  and  opened  the  eyes  of  many  more  ;  so  that 


DERRY.  45 

a  strong  party  was  quickly  formed,  whose  avowed  objpct 
it  was  to  keep  a  jealous  watch  upon  the  governor's  pro- 
ceedings. The  solemn  recognition  of  William  and  Mary, 
as  successors  to  the  abdicated  crown  of  James,  took  place 
in  the  month  of  February,  and  the  proclamation  of  their 
sovereign  dignity  was  celebrated  in  Derry  with  an  enthu- 
siasm proportioned  to  the  magnitude  of  that  stake  for  which 
its  inhabitants  contended.  Their  joy  was  nevertheless 
damped  by  incessant  rumors  of  the  landing  of  James  in 
their  country :  and  the  exulting  triumph  with  which  such 
reports  were  hailed  by  the  adversaries  of  their  cause.  Still 
it  was  the  general  impression  among  them,  that  King 
William  could  not  fail  to  dispatch  the  succours  which 
their  fidelity  assuredly  merited  ;  and  which  would  place 
them  at  once  beyond  the  apprehension  of  farther  peril. 

But  the  infant  power  of  William  had  3'^et  much  to  strug- 
gle through,  ere  it  could  extend  a  sheltering  wing  to 
this  remote  corner  of  his  dominions  5  and  the  Protestants  of 
Derry  had  still  to  learn  how  vain  is  the  confidence  re- 
posed in  princes — how  exclusively  sufficient  the  arm  of 
the  Lord,  who  is  also  a  jealous  God,  and  wills  not  that 
His  own  professing  people  should  trust  in  man,  and  make 
flesh  their  refiige. 

Tyrconnei  pursued  unfearingly  his  traitorous  designs ; 
and  desolation  once  more  rapidly  spread  over  the  soil  of 
Ireland,  until  the  seal  was,  as  it  appeared,  put  to  her 
dreaded  doom  ;  and  the  landing  of  ames  Stuart  at  Kin- 
sale,  on  the  12th  of  March,  identified  her  as  the  stage  on 
which  three  kingdoms  should  be  lost  and  won. 

An  unsuccessful  effort  on  the  castle  of  Carrickfergus  dis- 
heartened yet  more  the  Protestants  in  that  vicinity,  who, 
on  the  defeat  of  their  forces,  abandoned  their  homes,  and 
flocked  for  shelter  to  the  fortresses  of  Enniskillen  and  Derr3^ 
Throughout  every  movement  of  the  northern  troops,  the 
insidious  proceeding^  of  Lundy  were  found  to  operate  dis- 
5 


46  DERRY, 

advantageously  ;  and  under  the  pressure  of  their  rapidly- 
accumulating  sufferings  and  privations,  the  popular  feeling 
arose  against  him,  until  the  garrrison  and  inhabitants  of 
Derry  were  scarcely  restrained  from  laying  violent  hands 
on  him.  Still  as  no  act  of  unequivocal  treachery  could 
be  authenticated,  many  continued  to  countenance  his  pro- 
ceedings ;  and  this  brief  sketch  must  suffice  to  bring  our  nar- 
rative down  to  the  middle  of  March,  when  an  incident 
occurred  to  vary,  in  some  measure,  the  painful  solicitude 
of  the  M'Alisters. 

Bryan,  and  his  friend  Ross,  were  keeping  their  accus- 
tomed guard  towards  evening,  the  former  still  endeavor- 
ing to  awaken  in  his  comrade's  mind  that  concern  after 
eternal  things  for  which  their  growing  perils  furnished  a 
more  forcible  argument,  when  they  were  struck  by  the 
appearance  of  a  group  surrounding  an  object  of  squalid  as- 
pect, whose  stubborn  taciturnity  incurred  the  evident 
wrath  of  his  impatient  querists.  Demanding  the  nature  of 
their  inquiry,  Bryan  was  informed,  that  the  captive  had 
been  discovered  lurking  under  the  walls  in  a  very  suspi- 
cious way  ;  and  refused  either  to  state  the  nature  of  his 
business,  or  to  give  an  explicit  answer  on  the  score  of  his 
religion. 

"  Why  don't  you  take  him  to  the  governor "?"  asked 
Bryan. 

"  Arrah,  shure,  and  the  governor's  self  is  the  very  per- 
son to  dale  with  a  traitor!"  exclaimed  one  of  the  guard, 
with  a  grimace  that  sufficiently  showed  the  scope  of  his 
remark  ;  while  an  involuntary  movement  of  the  prisoner's 
muscles  seemed  to  bespeak  a  recognition  of  its  justice. 

This  play  of  feature  yet  more  provoked  the  bystanders, 
one  of  whom  roughly  seizing  the  stranger's  collar,  his  tat- 
tered vest  gave  way,  and  displayed  a  small  crucifix  of 
coarse  materials,  suspended  from  his  neck.  The  object 
seemed  a  satisfactory  confirmation  of  the  worst  possible 


DERRY.  47 

surmises ;  and  while  some  shouted,  "  bayonet  the  popish 
traitor!"  others  proposed  to  pitch  him  over  the  walls. 
Among  the  latter  was  Ross  ;  but  Bryan  interposed,  saying, 
*'  Really,  boys,  it  is  a  bad  example  that  our  enemies  set  us, 
of  putting  men  to  death  without  a  trial — give  him  fair 
play." 

The  public  opinion,  however,  was  against  this ;  but  on 
Ross  enforcing  the  demand,  and  some  other  object  divert- 
ing the  attention  of  the  people,  it  was  agreed,  that  if 
M'Alister  would  be  surety  for  his  safe-keeping,  he  should 
be  allowed  the  disposal  of  the  prisoner  for  the  night ;  and 
their  guard  being  now  relieved,  the  friends  consulted  as  to 
the  best  way  of  securing  their  prize. 

"  I  shall  take  him  home,"  said  Bryan,  after  a  moment's 
consideration,  "  no  prison  so  safe  as  our  little  abode  ;  and  I 
dare  say  the  poor  fellow  is  hungry  by  this  time.  Proba- 
bly, too,  he  is  wholly  Irish  j  and  we  can  make  out  a  little 
of  the  Celtic  among  us." 

"  You  needn't  put  yourself  out  of  the  way,"  grumbled 
the  prisoner.  "  Sure  enough  it's  myself  that  has  the  Irish 
drop,  clane  and  entire  ;  but  I'm  'cute  at  the  languages." 

Ross  and  M'Alister  looked  on  each  other,  not  a  little 
amused  at  the  careless  effrontery  of  a  man  in  such  critical 
circumstances.  The  former,  assuming  as  rich  a  brogue  as 
his  new  acquaint  ance,  said, 

"  Come  now,  my  gay  fellow,  I'll  engage  that  you'll  be 
after  just  taking  charge  of  some  nate  little  billet  for  Gov- 
ernor Lundy." 

"  You  may  get  out  of  that,"  answered  the  other  ;  "  for 
my  trial  does  not  come  on  till  to-morrow." 

"  Hold  your  tongue,  Ross,"  whispered  Bryan,  "  we 
must  not  encourage  his  familiarity  :  consider  the  poor 
females  at  home." 

Arrived  at  their  abode,  Bryan  briefly  prepared  his  fami- 
ly for  the  entrance  of  such  a  guest  ',  and  then  ushered 


48  DERRY. 

him  into  the  apartment,  from  which  the  young  ladies  had 
withdrawn.  Old  Shane,  of  late  indulged  with  a  seat  near 
the  chimney  corner,  was  dozing,  and  scarcely  marked  their 
entrance  ;  but  the  Lady  of  M'Alister  bent  her  scrutini- 
zing eye  upon  the  stranger,  as,  with  mild  dignity,  she 
pointed  to  a  seat. 

He  was  evidently  quite  young  ;  and  in  the  absence  of 
filth,  and  if  properly  clothed,  would  have  borne  rather  a 
prepossessing  aspect.  His  figure  was  good,  but  drooping 
under  evident  weakness  and  fatigue :  a  naturally  fair  com- 
plexion, though  embrowned  by  exposure,  and  lively  blue 
eyes,  bore  witness  to  his  Milesian  descent  ;  while  the 
thick  chestnut  hair,  clustered  or  rather  matted  about  his 
face,  imparted  a  characteristic  Avildness,  and  concealed 
much  of  its  expression.  His  manner  at  once  changed  to 
respectful  courtesy  when  he  beheld  the  ladies  ;  till  the 
luxury  of  a  warm  seat  appeared  to  banish  every  other  feel- 
ing but  that  of  present  enjoyment.  Bryan  immediately 
supplied  him  with  a  substantial  slice  of  bread  and  cheese, 
over  which  he  devoutly  crossed  himself 

Just  at  this  moment  Shane  recovered  the  use  of  all  his 
faculties  ;  and  sitting  upright,  with  staring  eyes  exclaim- 
ed, "  In  the  name  of  madness.  Master  Bryan,  what  have 
you  brought  here  1" 

A  comic  expression  of  countenance  showed  that  the 
new  comer  enjoyed  his  consternation  :  while  Ross  answer- 
ed, "  A  prisoner;"  and  Bryan  followed  it  up  by  a  brief 
statement  of  the  circumstances  attending  his  capture. 

Mrs.  M'Alister  expressed  her  anxious  hope  that  he 
would  not  prove  so  guilty  as  they  supposed  ;  but  Shane's 
indignation  scarcely  knew  any  bounds. 

"  Sure  and  you  haven't  the  heart  to  see  the  poor  ladies 
kilt  with  fright,  while  you  garrison  the  house  with  mur- 
thering  papist  rebels !" 


DERRY.  49 

"  Compose  yourself,  Shane,"  said  the  Lady  calmly  ; 
"  we  are  perfectly  satisfied  to  shelter  him  for  the  night." 

"  Long  life  to  your  Ladyship's  hospitality  !"  said  the 
man  ;  "  you'll  be  Irish,  I'm  thinking,  by  that  same." 

"  Aye,  won't  she  then  V  exclaimed  Shane,  in  a  yet 
more  angry  tone  ;  "  who'll  be  Irish  if  the  right,  real,  rich 
blood  of  the  O'Neill's  isn't  that  ]  Nothing  but  a  black 
mouthed  Papist  could  deny  her  ladyship." 

"  I'm  proud  to  hear  it,"  replied  the  other ;  while  Bryan 
reprimanded  Shane's  asperity,  and  Ross  highly  enjoyed 
the  scene. 

The  old  man,  however,  seemed  to  have  been  awakened 
from  some  alarming  dream,  to  behold  the  vision  verified ; 
for  he  continued  to  bewail  the  event,  adding,  "  Man  and 
boy,  these  seventy  years,  has  poor  Shane  O'Connogher 
been  laming  the  mischief  of  them  ;  barrin,  that  when  I 
was  a  brainless  gossoon,  I  went  to  mass  with  my  kin.  But 
never  since  I  saw  the  outside  of  sweet  Ballinahagan,  to 
follow  my  noble  master,  have  I  darkened  the  door  of  one 
of  their  mass-houses.  Och,  and  its  old  Shane  that  must 
sit  and  be  bearded  to  his  face  by  a  rebelly  popish  traitor, 
crossing  himself  to  the  blessed  work  of  selling  our  lives  to 
the  bloody  Tyrconnel." 

"  And  is  it  yourself,  Shane,  dear,"  said  the  other,  in 
the  most  provoking  tone  of  affectionate  remonstrance  ;  "  is 
it  yourself  that'll  sit  cracking  your  precious  windpipe  to 
the  disparagement  of  your  own  nathral  flesh  and  blood, 
avoureen  V 

"  My  flesh  and  blood,  you  imp  1" 

"  Plase  your  honor,"  said  the  man,  turning  to  Bryan 
and  his  laughing  companion,  "  as  sure  as  I  sit  here,  I'm 
his  brother's  daughter's  son.  Hadn't  he  a  brother  named 
Denis,  five  years  older  nor  himself,  and  that  same  married 
to  Judy  M  'Lanaghan,  who  died,  rest  her  soul  !  at  the 
birth  of  her  first  child.  Well,  and  wasn't  young  Judy 
5* 


50  DERRY. 

married  to  Larry  Magrath,  the  miller's  son  at  Kilcronan, 
and  he  my  own  father  1  Fait  and  it's  a  good  name  that 
my  uncle  is  after  taking  out  of  me,  though  I  hadn't  the 
merit  of  turning  my  religion,  agra  !" 

Fixed  in  amazement,  old  Shane  gazed  on  his  soi-disant 
grand-nephew  ;  and  then  let  forth  a  volley  of  Irish,  to 
which  the  other  responded  with  no  less  fluency  ;  when, 
quite  overcome  by  the  sudden  recognition,  the  aged  man 
tottered  towards  his  relation,  and  almost  fell  over  him  in 
the  attempt  to  grasp  his  hands.  Young  Magrath  at  once 
lost  the  air  of  levity  and  sarcasm,  and  after  affectionately 
embracing  his  uncle,  led  him  back  to  his  chair,  by  which 
he  stood,  looking  down  on  him  with  an  expression  far 
more  pleasing  than  his  countenance  had  yet  assumed : 
until  Shane  abruptly  asked,  "  And  did  ye  come  to  search 
for  me,  dear  V 

"  I  can't  say  that  I  did,"  answered  Magi-ath  5  and  his 
looks  chano-ed  again  for  the  worse. 

Had  the  recognition  taken  place  under  any  other  cir- 
cumstances, suspicion  of  some  sinister  design  might  have 
attached  to  the  new  comer  ;  but  the  way  in  which  Ma- 
grath had  fallen  into  his  hands,  convinced  Bryan  that  it  was 
altogether  unpremeditated.  Shane  had  said  enough  to 
identify  himself;  and  the  particulars  mentioned  by  the 
other  could  not  have  been  added  at  a  venture.  These 
remarks  he  communicated  apart  to  his  grandmother,  who, 
with  her  accustomed  strong  faith,  referred  the  whole  mat- 
ter to  an  over-ruling  Providence  ;  expressing  an  anxious 
desire  to  screen  the  captive  from  public  resentment,  if  he 
might  be  prevailed  on  to  confess  and  to  forego  any  treach- 
erous purpose.  Bryan  consultfd  Ross,  whose  compassion- 
ate, good-natured  feelings  had  already  well  nigh  overcome 
his  political  hostility  ;  and  they  agreed  to  make  an  effort 
on  their  prisoner's  behalf.  Public  suspicion,  however,  had 
fastened  so  keenly  on  the  governor,  that  the  vengeance 


DERRY.  51 

which  was  restrained  from  reaching  him,  would  be  sure  to 
fall  heavily  on  any  suspected  emissary,  if  once  within  its 
grasp. 

Determined  to  elicit  some  confession  from  Magrath,  the 
two  friends  agreed  to  sit  up  during  the  night,  having  pre- 
vailed on  the  ladies  and  Shane  to  retire  and  leave  them 
with  their  charge.  Vain  was  all  their  skill ;  for  with  in- 
vincible self-possession,  Magrath  met,  and  successfully  re- 
pelled, every  attempt  to  extort  information,  until  Bryan, 
was  compelled  to  declare,  that  their  wishes  to  protect  him 
must  be  unavailing,  seeing  how  obstinately  he  withstood 
every  inducement  to  confide  in  them.  He  then  dismissed 
him  to  his  couch  in  an  adjoining  closet,  and  pursued  the 
subject  with  Ross. 

"  You  see  how  impossible  it  is  to  make  him  confess  any 
thing." 

"  Aye,"  replied  Ross  ;  "  but,  mark  you,  he  has  denied 
nothing.  You'll  get  neither  truth  nor  falsehood  out  of  that 
fellow.  He  is  too  wary  for  the  first,  and  either  too  honest 
or  too  proud  for  the  latter — but,  hark !"  and  he  paused  as 
the  voice  of  Magrath  issued  from  the  little  cell,  in  the 
voluble  repetition  of  his  prayers,  which  he  uttered  in 
Irish. 

"  There  now,"  continued  Ross,  "  if  that  wasn't  done  to 
brave  us  !  Why  could  he  not  gabble  his  mummeries  in  a 
lower  tone  1" 

"  Patience,  my  dear  fellow :  this  lad  is  certainly  of  a 
daring  spirit,  and  intends  to  let  us  know  it.  Better  to 
deal  with  an  undisguised  ruffian  than  a  smoothed-tongued 
assassin.  Let  him  sleep  awhile  ;  and  we  will  have  re- 
course to  my  dear  grandmother's  book,  that  lamp  to  our 
feet  which  never  yet  cast  its  guiding  ray  on  the  wander- 
ing mazes  of  his  perilous  path  ;"  and  he  read  a  portion  of 
Scripture,    commenting  as  he   proceeded:    after  which, 


52  DERRYo 

wrapped  each  in  his  watch-cloak,  they  resigned  themselvea 
to  slumber. 

Before  day-break,  Magrath  issued  from  his  dormitory, 
and  succeeded  in  kindling  the  fire,  whose  smoke  aroused 
the  young  men  from  the  sleep  which  his  stealthy  move- 
ments had  not  disturbed.  With  some  surprise  they  look- 
ed at  him  and  at  each  other,  while  Magrath,  turning  up 
his  arch  countenance  fi'om  the  operation  of  blowing  the 
fire,  exclaimed,  "  Arrah,  now,  plase  your  honors,  and  if 
I'd  been  the  murthering  traitor  that  my  uncle,  rest  his 
tongue  !  convicted  me,  you  mightn't  be  after  shaking  your- 
selves out  of  your  sleep  this  blessed  morning." 

"  Sure  enough,"  answered  Ross,  "  we  have  proved  our- 
selves drowsy  sentinels,  and  might  have  had  the  tables 
turned." 

"  We  felt  ourselves  safe,  my  lad,"  added  Bryan.  "  We 
were  in  good  keeping,  in  the  way  of  duty,  and  dreaded  no 
evil." 

"  Your  honors  have  no  cause  to  dread  it  from  me," 
said  Magrath,  with  the  strong  emphasis  of  real  feeling. 
"  Shane  O'Connogher's  old  stomach  has  been  nourished  by 
your  bread,  and  his  grey  hairs  sheltered  under  your  roof, 
too  long  to  leave  you  in  danger  from  one  of  his  own 
blood." 

"  And  for  poor  old  Shane's  sake,  if  not  for  your  own, 
why  will  you  not  allow  us  to  befriend  you  1" 

Magrath's  brow  clouded  again,  as  he  recommenced 
blowing  the  fire ;  and  before  he  could  frame  a  reply,  a 
gentle  tap  at  the  door  announced  the  Lady  of  M'Alister, 
whose  busy  thoughts  had  roused  her  thus  early ;  while 
sounds  of  preparation  proved  that  others  were  also  on  the 
alert  to  provide  a  breakfast  for  the  prisoner  and  his  guards. 
By  the  first  grey  tints  of  morning,  Magrath  beheld  the 
whole  family  assembled,  and  received  the  cordial  greeting 
of  his  uncle,  whose  limbs  trembled  with  apprehension,  as 


DEiaRY.  53 

he  wistfully  inquired  what  they  were  going  to  do  with 
"the  boy." 

The  Lady  made  a  sign  for  silence  as  she  unclosed  the 
precious  volume  of  inspiration,  and  spread  it  before  Bryan, 
who  selected  the  ninety-first  Psalm.  Curiosity  and  sur- 
prise, mingled  with  much  interest,  animated  Magrath's 
countenance,  to  whom  the  nature  and  contents  of  the 
book  were  apparently  unknown  ;  but  when  the  party 
kneeled  to  pray,  considerable  embarrassment  appeared  in 
his  manner.  He  rose  from  his  seat,  moved  away,  linger- 
ed, then  again  moved  on  ;  and  softly  withdrew  to  his  late 
sleeping  apartment,  from  which,  however,  he  could  not 
exclude  the  voice  of  supplication,  particularly  pleading  for 
direction  and  a  happy  issue  in  that  Avhich  concerned 
him. 

This  indication  of  Popish  exclusiveness,  on  the  part  of 
his  nephew,  seemed  to  revive  somewhat  of  Shane's  former 
displeasure,  which  found  vent  in  an  interrogatory  abrupt- 
ly put  in  Irish,  and  answered  with  a  seriousness  which 
prevented  farther  remark,  beyond  a  little  unintelligible 
muttering.  Magrath  would  have  respectfully  withdrawn 
from  the  breakfast  table  ;  but  being  kindly  invited  to  stay, 
he  seated  himself  in  a  distant  corner,  and  looked  upon  the 
assembled  party  with  an  aspect  from  which  Bryan  augur- 
ed a  relenting  temper.  Ellen  appeared  particularly  to  en- 
gage his  regard.  He  inquired  of  Shane,  in  Irish,  whether 
she  was  sick,  and  received  an  answer  from  the  girl  herself, 
who,  sweetly  smiling,  replied  in  the  same  language,  that 
she  was  rather  weak,  but  hoped  to  be  better  when  the 
siege  was  over,  and  she  could  get  home  to  her  native  hills 
again.  No  one  could  avoid  noticing  the  effect  produced 
on  Magrath  by  this  unexpected  address  in  his  own  tongue, 
imperfectly  spoken  indeed,  but  quite  intelligible  to  him. 
He  gazed  for  a  moment  on  the  pale  face  that  smiled  so 
kindly  upon  him,  then  laid  his  hand  to  his  forehead,  and 


54  DERRY. 

with  elbow  resting  on  his  knee,  continued  in  thought,  the 
earnestness  of  which  was  marked  by  the  swelling  veins  of 
a  really  expressive  brow,  partially  seen. 

"  Ah,  bless  the  dear  child !"  exclaimed  Shane  ;  "  she 
little  thinks  how  long  a  day  that  may  be  yet :"  while  Ross 
darted  at  Magrath  a  glance  so  hostile  that  Bryan  rejoiced 
that  it  had  failed  to  catch  his  eye,  and  whispered  him  anx- 
iously to  repress  his  feelings.  No  sooner  had  Bryan 
completed  his  breakfast,  than  Magrath  respectfully  sum- 
moned him  aside,  and  commenced  by  asking  before  whom 
he  was  to  be  taken. 

"  You  heard  the  bargain,"  answered  M'Alister.  "  I 
engaged  to  deliver  you  up  to  the  person  who  captured 
you,  and  he,  I  suppose,  will  have  you  before  the  gov- 
ernor." 

"Colonel  Lundyl" 

"  Yes." 

Magrath's  forehead  now  wore  a  portentous  scowl,  and 
he  clenched  his  teeth.  Bryan  continued,  "  I  have  told 
you  that  it  is  our  wish  to  avert  the  necessary  consequences 
of  your  conviction.  That  your  object  in  coming  here  was 
that  of  an  enemy,  we  can  hardly  doubt,  nor  have  you  de- 
nied it.  As  a  citizen  and  defender  of  this  town,  I  cannot, 
nor  will  I  be  a  traitor  to  her  cause,  nor  endanger  her  safe- 
ty through  favor  to  any  man'' — 

"  Now  your  honor,"  interrupted  Magrath,  "  will  you 
believe  what  I'm  going  to  say  V 

"  Certainly  ;  if  I've  no  just  cause  to  doubt  it." 

"  Why  then,  it  isn't  that  I  value  the  toss  of  a  halfpenny 
what  comes  over  myself ;  and  if  the  fellows  pitch  me  into 
the  Foyle,  as  they  talked,  so  let  'em.  Larry  Magrath  isn't 
the  boy  to  flinch,  right  or  wrong.  But,  Sir,  if  you'll  keep 
me  out  of  the  governor's  sight,  better  folks  than  myself" — 
and  he  glanced  around  him — "may  be  thankful;  only 
don't  ask  me  why,  for  tell  it  I  won't" 


DERRY,  55 

"  But  how  am  I  to  do  this,  and  in  the  dark  too  1" 

"  Och  !  it  isn't  for  me  to  direct  your  worship  :  but  one 
of  the  jontlemen  that  collared  me  last  night  didn't  appear 
in  haste  to  bring  me  to  Colonel  Lundy  :  and  he  seemed  to 
Icnow  his  honor  too.'* 

Bryan  could  not  forbear  smiling  at  the  point  with  which 
these  words  were  spoken,  recalling  the  evident  suspicion 
of  Lundy's  treachery, 

"  Well,  Magrath  ;  if  I  bring  you  out  of  danger,  will  you 
promise  me — solemnly  promise  me — to  lay  aside  any  evil 
design  with  which  you  came  here,  and  to  be  faithful  to 
us  while  you  remain  V 

"  Sir,  I  will."  And  the  firm  tone,  the  deliberate  utter- 
ance, the  straight  forward  look,  carried  conviction  with 
them,  to  Brj'an's  generous  mind. 

Accompanied  by  Ross,  he  now  repaired  to  the  princi- 
pal of  the  party  who  had  committed  Magrath  to  his  care, 
and  informing  him  of  his  strong  grounds  for  suspecting 
that  the  prisoner  had  come  on  some  mission  of  treachery, 
which  the  unexpected  meeting  with  a  long-lost  relation 
had  led  him  to  regret,  he  suggested  the  propriety  of  pre- 
venting the  interview  so  much  deprecated  by  Magrath. 
Knowing  how  deeply  his  hearer  participated  in  the  pre- 
vailing doubts  concerning  Lundy,  he  could  speak  without 
reserve  :  and  two  or  three  influential  men  of  similar  views 
having  been  consulted,  it  was  agreed  that  if  M'Alister 
would  himself  become  surety  for  the  appearance  of  the 
stranger  when  called  on,  no  notice  should  be  taken  of  hia 
capture.  The  frequency  of  such  occurrences  rendered  it 
unlikely  that  any  farther  inquiry  should  be  made,  beyond 
what  a  few  vague  words  would  satisfy,  and  Bryan  returned 
with  a  light  heart  to  acquaint  Magrath  of  the  result :  in- 
quiring whether  he  would  be  content  to  remain  a  pris- 
oner on  parole  with  him. 

"  Long  life  to  your  honor,  and  it's  myself  that  could 


56  DERRT. 

desire  no  greater  than  to  be  your  servant.  I  wouldn't  ask 
it  first ;  but  indeed  I'm  better  in  it  than  outside  the  walls, 
barrin  always  Governor  Lundy's  two  eyes  upon  me.  And 
it  isn't  for  my  own  gain  I  say  it." 

"I  believe  you,  Magrath.  I  think  that  the  natural  kind 
feelings  of  an  Irishman  towards  an  unsuspecting  famih' 
who  wish  him  well,  have  overcome  something  less  credit- 
able to  the  character." 

"  True  for  you,  Sir ;  at  least  I  don't  deny  it :  and  now 
your  honor  will  just  let  me  work  in  the  family,  so  as  to 
earn  the  bit  that  I  eat ;  and  long  life  to  you  for  the  same." 


CHAPTER  IV 


A  LITTLE    attention   to   his  person   and   apparel  had 
wrought  such  a  change  inMagrath  s  appearance,  that  there 
seemed  to  be    but   slight  hazard   of  a  recognition,   even 
should  he  meet  his  original  captors.     He  was,  indeed,  a 
fine  manly  fellow,  with  an  air  of  independence  about  him 
that  bespoke  a  habit  of  thinking  and  acting  for  himself. 
He  soon  became  an  especial  favorite  with  the   younger 
Mrs.  M'Alister,  who  found  his  ready  ways  invaluable,  as  a 
household  assistant ;  while  his  perfect  good    humor,  tem- 
pered with   deep    respect,  won  the  partiality  of  the  two 
girls.     The  Lady  regarded  him  with  a  more  anxious  in- 
terest, concerned  for  his  spiritual  darkness,  and  longing  to 
see  some  indication  of  a  willingness  to  receive  the  truth. 
But  Magrath  baffled  all  her  attempts  to  engage  his  notice, 
and   wrapped  himself  up,   occasionally,    in  a  reserve  so 
chilling,  or  else  betrayed  such  manifest  impatience  to  get 
out  of  hearing,  that  Shane  often  lost  his  temper,  and  in- 
dulged in  hard  speeches  at  his  nephew's  expense.     Some- 
times the  old  man  was  thoroughly  bent  on  his  conversion, 
making   violent  attacks  on  his  religious  creed,  more  con- 
spicuous for  the   zeal  that  inspired,  than  the  knowledge 
which  supported  them.     To  these  Magrath  generally  op- 
posed that  dry   and  irritating  sarcasm  which  never  failed 
to   put  his  uncle  completely  off  his  guard  j  so  that  the 
6 


58  DERRY. 

Irish  language,  rich  as  it  is  in  variety  of  expression,  could 
scarcely  furnish  the  old  man  with  phraseology  sufficiently 
copious  for  his  purposes  of  invective  and  contradiction. 
Often  did  the  Lady  of  M'Alister  interpose  her  authority, 
and  many  a  private  admonition  Shane  received  ;  but  his 
irascibility  surmounted  every  thing  except  the  stoical  en- 
durance of  his  nephew,  who  with  elbows  on  his  knees,  and 
chin  propped  on  the  palms  of  his  hands,  seated  on  a  low 
stool,  would  gaze,  and  listen  as  if  to  an  agreeable  narra- 
tive, while  Shane  exhausted  all  his  strength  of  lungs,  all 
his  treasury  of  tropes,  figures,  and  denunciations,  against 
"  the  monsthrous,  bare-faced  tricks'  of  shaven  priests ;  and 
the  jabbering  nonsense  of  prayers  only  fit  to  be  squeezed 
out  of  a  rebelly  throat  at  the  foot  of  the  gallows  "  So  in- 
variably did  Shane  identify  Popery  with  treason  ;  still  em- 
bodying all  loyal  and  patriotic  virtues  in  the  expressive 
term  of  "  a  real  Protestant." 

And  if  Shane  had  lived  to  number  a  hundred  and  forty 
years  from  the  siege  of  Derry,  would  he  have  incurred 
the  charge  of  singularity  by  repeating  this  assertion  1  It 
may  be  feared,  that  even  among  those  of  a  far  higher  grade, 
both  in  rank  and  learning,  a  kindred  spirit  would  be  found 
extensively  spread  abroad,  impressing  men's  minds  with  a 
similar  conviction,  while  the  true  nature  of  real  Protestant- 
ism remained  as  little  understood  as  it  was  by  old  O'Con- 
nogher.  It  must  be  observed,  in  the  midst  of  his  invec- 
tives against  the  Romish  faith,  he  never  questioned  the 
safety  of  their  souls  who  lived  and  died  under  its  influence, 
providing  always  that  they  were  untainted  by  rebellion 
against  a  Protestant  ruler.  Shane  never  viewed  that  faith 
in  its  more  awful  character  of  treason  against  the  King  of 
kings,  a  homage  rendered  to  the  anti-christian  usurper, 
who  assuming  a  royal  priesthood,  yea,  even  to  reign  an 
enthroned  priest,  over  both  priests  and  kings,  lays  claim  to 
that  prerogative  which  belongs  to  Jesus  Christ  alone  ;  "so 


DERRY.  59 

that  he,  as  God,  sitteth  in  the  temple  of  God,  shewing  him- 
self that  he  is  God  "*  in  his  own  estimation,  while  he  re- 
ceives the  worship  which  is  a  robbery  of  the  true  God, 
and  therefore  branded  in  scripture  as  bringing  into  eternal 
perdition  those  who  continue  in  its  practice.  A  change  of 
opinion  was  that  on  which  Shane  hoped  to  build  a  change 
of  his  nephew's  character  :  while  the  enlightened  Christians 
ot  the  household  well  knew  that  such  a  fabric  could  not  rest 
on  any  other  foundation  than  a  change  of  heart.  To  shew 
him  the  evil  of  his  nature,  and  the  peril  in  which  he  stood 
as  a  helpless  sinner,  was  the  necessary  prelude  to  hum- 
bling him  before  the  Lord  in  prayer  for  that  renewing  pro- 
cess which  God  the  Spirit  can  alone  achieve ;  and  who- 
soever has  seriously  tried  this  experiment  with  a  member 
of  the  church  of  Rome,  must  bear  testimony,  that,  until 
bulwarks  be  levelled,  the  task  is  hopeless.  The  trans- 
gressor may  be  convinced,  deeply  convinced  of  guilt ;  but 
humbled  he  cannot  be,  so  long  as  he  believes  that  his  own 
doings  and  sufferings  can  atone  for  the  sin  which  oppresses 
him.  Seeking  wherewith  he  shall  appear  before  the  Lord, 
the  inquirer  is  met  by  a  host  of  deceptive  helpers,  absolu- 
tions, prayers,  penances,  alms-deeds,  imaginary  mediators 
and  purchaseable  merits  ;  and  should  all  lail  on  this  side 
the  grave,  he  is  assured  of  purifying  fires  beyond  its  bound- 
ary, and  efficacious  masses  to  expedite  their  work.  Alike 
welcome  to  carnal  pride  and  to  spiritual  sloth,  he  is  pre- 
sented with  a  scheme  which  offers  him  a  self-righteous 
plea  on  one  hand,  and  on  the  other  dispenses  with  that 
sanctification  which  God  has  pronounced  indispejnsable. 
And  can  it  be  that  any  person  taught  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
should  attempt  to  pour  into  these  bottles  of  rotten  leather, 
the  new  wine  of  unadulterated  truth — should  essay  to  patch 
this  worn  and  perishing  garment  of  rags  with  the  firm 

*  2  Thess.  ii.4.' 


60  DERRY. 

fabric  of  gospel  doctrine— should  flatter  himself  that  Christ 
will  deign  to  rule  in  a  temple  where  every  species  of  idol- 
atrous abomination  is  to  cluster  round  its  footstool,  to  ob- 
scure his  kingly  glory,  to  intrude  upon  his  priestly  prero- 
gative, to  interpolate  his  prophetical  mandate,  and  only  as 
a  chief  among  many  saviors,  to  yield  him  the  worthless 
homage  of  divided  praise  ! 

"  We  would  have  healed  Babylon,  but  she  is  not  healed : 
forsake  her, '  saith  the  prophet.  The  Lord,  indeed,  has 
pronounced  her  incurable,  and  the  only  deliverance  is  found 
in  obeying  the  summons,  "  Come  out  of  her,  my  people  : 
be  not  partakers  of  her  sins,  that  he  receive  not  of  her 
plagues."  God  has  a  people,  even  in  the  iron  furnace  of 
her  spiritual  despotism  ;  and  he  alone  can  bring  them  forth, 
and  gather  them  into  his  fold  :  but  ours  is  the  task  to  pro- 
claim deliverance,  and  M'oe  be  to  us  if  we  dilute  the  awful 
^ord  rendering  void  the  testimony  of  God  by  our  traditional 
delusions,  miscalled  charity. 

We  may  naturally  s-uppose  that  such  a  character  as 
Magrath,  so  singularly  brought  among  them,  must  have 
excited  uncommon  interest  in  the  bosoms  of  a  Christian 
family  :  and  anxiously  did  they,  particularly  Bryan  and  the 
Lady,  labor  to  make  knoAvn  to  him  the  way  of  escape  ; 
but  Shane's  injudicious  proceedings,  entrenched  in  the 
strong  holds  of  his  vernacular  tongue,  appeared  t  >  counter- 
act all  their  efforts.  The  partial  knowledge  acquired  by  the 
young  people  was  totally  inadequate  to  follow  Shane  and 
Magrath  in  their  rapid  enunciation;  neither  could  they 
command  terms  wherewith  to  express  themselves  on  spirit- 
ual or  intellectual  subjects.  "  I  can  manage  pretty  well," 
observed  Ellen,  "  so  long  as  I  keep  to  what  is  passing 
around  us  every  day :  but  to  reason  in  that  tongue  is  out 
of  the  question.     I  cannot  think  in  Irish." 

"You  are  right,  my  love,"  said  her  grandmother ;  "and 
you  have  unconsciously  described  the  one  insurmountable 


DERRY.  61 

bar  to  my  country's  peace  :  her  children,  the  native 
race,  cannit  tliink  in  Engh'sh ;  and  therefore  the  in- 
struction offered  to  them  under  what  they  consider  a  fo- 
reign garb,  finds  no  entrance  to  their  understanding  or  their 
heart.  Oh,  but  to  see  one  of  the  days  of  Bedel,  whose 
hand  so  indefatigably  labored  in  their  cause  ;  his  patient 
mind  surmounting  every  obstacle,  until  he  had  mastered 
the  language,  and  transferred  into  it  the  word  of  life, 
leaving  his  name  embalmed  in  many  a  heart  which  bleeds 
in  secret  over  my  country's  desolation  !" 

It  may  appear  a  bold  assertion,  though  more  easily  to 
be  contradicted  than  confuted,  that  even  the  lowest  orders 
of  native  Irish  —  by  which  we  always  understand  the 
race  whose  ancestors  possessed  the  soil  prior  to  the  English 
invasion — are  decidedly  a  more  intellectual  people  than 
any  who  occupy  a  similar  station  in  other  countries.  Dis- 
graced as  Ireland  has  been  by  intestine  Avars,  rebellions, 
massacres,  and  almost  interminable  insurrections,  accom- 
panied with  deeds  of  aggravated  atrocity,  we  are  more  dis- 
posed to  combine  the  idea  of  brutal  force,  animal  courage, 
and  inherent  cruelty,  with  that  of  an  Irish  peasant,  than  to 
concede  to  him  an  elevated  station  in  the  grades  of  mental 
capability.  In  this  we  err :  at  least  in  concluding  that  with 
the  latter  distinction  the'former  characteristics  are  irrecon- 
cilable. The  simple  fact  is,  that  we  have  taken  infinite 
pains  to  incapacitate  ourselves  from  forming  any  right  judg- 
ment concerning  the  race,  by  denouncing"  the  only  key  to 
their  thoughts  and  feelings.  We  have  refused  to  explore 
the  mine  of  national  intellect  buried  under  what  it  pleases 
us  to  call  a  barbarous  tongue  :  and  just  looking  upon  the 
rugged  surface,  we  avert  an  eye  of  scorn,  perchance  of 
disgust,  incredulous  that  precious  metal  lies  deeply  imbed- 
ded in  the  soil.  And  yet,  in  the  face  of  all  this  prejudice,  I 
assert — disprove  it  who  can — that  the  native  Irish,  general 
ly  speaking,  are  richly  stored  with  mental  powers  ;  keenly 
6* 


62  DERRY. 

sensitive,  highly  imaginative,  delighting  in  the  play  of  fan- 
cy, and  marked  by  an  inquiring  spirit,  not  terminating  in 
the  present  gratification  of  vague  curiosity,  but  capable  of 
seizing,  investigating,  developing,  and  feeding  upon  those 
subjects  which  call  into  fullest  activity  the  reasoning  facul- 
ties of  man.  Withheld  by  the  fetters  of  a  darkening  delu- 
sion from  expatiating  where  immortal  beings  find  a  conge- 
nial element,  the  craving  appetite  turns  earthward  and 
feasts  on  poisonous  garbage  :  yet  were  an  Englishman  of 
cultivated  mind,  well  versed  in  the  vernacular  tongue,  to 
become  the  unsuspected  witness  when  a  party  of  Irish 
peasants  rest  from  their  toil,  he  might  often  hear  such  tales 
of  Ireland's  ancient  glory,  such  legends  of  her  warlike 
kings,  and  such  foreshowings  of  imaginary  triumph,  glean- 
ed from  prophetic  lays,  and  traditionary  oracles,  as 
would  fix  him  in  astonishment;  and  prompt  the  secret 
query  whether  that  is  a  wise  policy  which,  by  locking 
from  this  ardent  people  the  stores  of  useful  sobering  infor- 
mation, indissolubly  weds  them  to  these  exciting  retro- 
spections— these  meteors  of  anticipated  glory,  too  often 
leading  them  forward  in  the  path  of  mutual  destruction. 

But  again  we  must  return  to  Derry,  and  view  the  pro- 
gressive troubles  of  her  augmenting  population,  for  she 
soon  became  the  last  refuge  of  all  the  terrified  northern 
Protestants ;  and  while  the  garrison  received  a  W'elcome 
accession  of  strength,  the  influx  of  many  helpless  fugitives, 
incapable  of  yieldmg  any  assistance  in  defending  the 
town,  created  additional  embarrassment.  Still  was  the 
compassionate  sympathy  of  the  inhabitants  imbounded ; 
and  they  cheerfiilly  concurred  in  submitting  to  every  pri- 
vation rather  than  reject  the  pleadings  of  these  persecuted 
wanderers.  The  Irish  army,  as  it  was  called,  under  a 
commander  devoted  to  James  Stuart  and  Tyrconnel,  gradu- 
ally approached  this  northern  extremity :  and  it  was  evi- 


DERRY.  63 

dent  that  the  bloodless  blockade  would,  ere  long,  be  con- 
verted into  a  sanguinary  siege. 

The  presence  of  Lundy  within  the  walls,  however, 
constituted  a  more  serious  cause  for  inquietude  than  the 
prospects  of  assailants  without.  He  was  closely  watched ; 
and  the  doublings  of  his  crooked  policy  made  manifest  to 
many.  Ross  had  become  the  most  intemperate  of  these  ; 
and  his  irritation  frequently  shewed  itself  in  bursts  that  all 
the  calm  reasoning  of  his  friends  could  scarcely  rej  ress. 
It  was  on  one  of  these  occasions  that,  after  a  sweeping  de- 
nunciation, which  included  both  principals  and  infeiiors, 
all  of  every  class  attached  to  popery  and  King  James,  he 
concluded  by  a  comparison  between  the  native  Irish,  and 
all  other  inhabitants  of  the  British  Isles,  thanking  the  fates 
that  he  derived  his  lineage  from  a  very  different  race,  and 
hoping  that  he  might  never  have  to  do  with  the  blood- 
thirsty traitors  of  the  soil. 

The  very  peculiar  expression  that  curled  Magrath's 
lips,  as  he  turned  to  his  uncle,  caught  the  eye  of  Ross  ; 
which  the  other  perceiving,  dropped  the  native  language, 
and  continued  in  English  a  remark  just  commenced,  that 
it  was  a  pity  they  ever  risked  their  nate  persons  among 
'em. 

"  What  are  you  saying.  Sir  !"  demanded  Ross,  sternly. 

"  I  am  saying.  Sir,"  answered  the  other,  fixing  on  him 
the  full  gaze  of  calm  defiance,  "  that  it's  out  and  out  true 
for  you,  your  forefathers  had  better  have  let  us  be  asy  in 
our  own  land." 

"  Your  land  !  the  land  is  our's  by  conquest,  and  it  is 
only  by  our  weak  sufferance  that  a  tribe  of  you  exist." 

"  Conquest !  '  ejaculated  IMagrath,  starting  to  his  feet, 
while  impassioned  energy  swelled  every  feature,  and  fired 
his  ar'ion  into  vehemence.  "  'Tis  false  ;  ye  invaded  the 
land,  ye  overran  it,  ye  parcelled  it  out ;  but  conquer  it  ye 
didn't,  nor  ye  couldn't.     Och !  but  may  be  we'll  be  after 


64  DERRY. 

forgetting,  when  Malachy  scoured  the  land  of  them  heath- 
enish Danes :  and  our  own  Bryan  Borromy  led  his  Dal- 
cais  to  Dublin  gates,  and  shewed  how  Irishmen  would'nt 
be  conquered.     And  we'll  be  forgetting " 

"  Hush,  Magrath  !"  said  the  Lady  of  M'Alister,  kindly 
smiling  on  the  vehement  orator ;  then  turning  to  Ross,  she 
continued,  "  The  way  to  conquer  the  Irish,  my  young 
friend,  is  to  conquer  their  hearts." 

Till  this  moment  it  had  never  occurred  to  the  angry 
youth  that  his  intemperate  philippic  had  touched  the 
venerable  lady  as  nearly  as  her  more  humble  guest.  He 
manifested  no  little  embarrassment,  while  Magrath's  coun- 
tenance brightened  into  tenfold  animation. 

"  Good  luck  to  your  Ladyship,  and  long  life,  and  hon- 
or, and  glory ! — that  belongs  to  the  O'Neill  any  how. 
And  poor  Larry  Magrath  is  bound  to  love  the  green  sod 
that  your  honor  walks  over,  barrin'  that  it  isn't  in  Derry 
the  grass  will  grow.  And  your  Ladyship,  wasn't  the 
O'Neill  the  very  mischief  among  'em,  marching  up  and 
down,  like  a  mad  cat  at  their  tails  1  And  you'll  remem- 
ber, your  glory,  when  Finn  M'Coul,  in  the  pride  of  his 
heart " 

How  far  Magrath's  reminiscences  might  have  carried 
him,  or  how  many  more  epithets  of  affectionate  reverence 
he  might  have  bestowed  on  the  I^ady,  cannot  be  ascertain- 
ed :  for  Bryan,  pjitylng  his  friend's  confusion,  good  hu- 
moredly  interposed,  saying,  "  Come,  let  me  negotiate  a 
peace  between  the  contending  powers.  Confess  the  truth, 
Ross,  you  have  very  little  blood  in  your  veins  that  is  not 
Irish  ;  and  therefore  you  could  not  intend  seriously  to  de- 
cry the  race.  You,  Magrath,  have  certainly  lost  sight  of 
the  respect  due  to  a  gentleman — to  your  joint  protector — 
to  my  friend." 

This  appeal  seemed  to  fail  of  its  effect,  until  the  last 
word  was  uttered,  when  Magrath,  fixing  on  him  a  look  of 


DERRY.  65 

respectful  firmness,  answered,  "Sir,  any  offence  against 
the  friend  of  O'Neill  couldn  t  come  from  my  heart,  and  I 
ask  your  pardon."  Then,  without  noticing  Ross,  he  turn- 
ed to  his  uncle,  and  impatiently  exclaimed  in  Irish,  "  By 
the  battles  of  Conn !  only  for  the  O'Neill  I  would  not 
shelter  my  head  under  this  roof  another  night." 

One  good  effect  seemed  to  result  from  this  altercation 
— Magrath's  attachment  to  the  Lady  of  M'Alister  was 
evidently  increased  ;  and  as  Ellen  inherited  much  of  her 
grandmother's  resemblance,  and  took  great  interest  in  the 
records  of  olden  time,  she  came  in  for  a  large  share  of  his 
affection  too.  The  poor  girl  was  still  wasting  slowly 
away,  and  furnished  the  little  family  with  an  object  of 
peculiar  care  and  solicitude,  among  the  many  which  press- 
ed upon  their  thoughts. 

On  the  reception  into  the  garrison  of  a  numerous  rein- 
forcement in  troops,  driven,  with  their  attendant  crowds 
of  fugitives,  from  the  neighboring  stations,  it  was  found 
needful  to  provide  accommodations  for  them  at  the  ex- 
pense of  almost  all  the  little  remaining  comfort  of  the  in- 
habitants. The  M'Alisters  contrived  to  spare  a  portion  of 
their  small  abode ;  the  elder  lady  taking  Ellen  into  her 
apartment,  which  being  on  the  ground-floor,  was  more  ac- 
cessible to  the  invalid  ;  while  Letitia  and  her  mother  oc- 
cupied a  bed  in  the  attic  ;  an  adjoining  closet  serving  the 
purpose  of  a  store;  and  Magrath,  with  his  uncle,  stowed 
their  couches,  side  by  side,  in  the  little  cell  already  men- 
tioned. The  female  servant  only  attended  in  the  house 
during  the  day  ;  and  Bryan,  when  not  on  duty,  slept  at 
his  former  home.  By  this  arrangement,  two  comfortable 
apartments  on  the  intermediate  floor  were  appropriated  to 
some  respectable  soldiers,  whose  care  to  prevent  any  en- 
croachment on  the  family  repaid  the  hospitable  shelter 
which  they  enjoyed. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  before  another  interesting  in- 


66  DERRY. 

dividual  was  added  to  the,  household,  in  the  person  of  a 
venerable  man,  whose  silver  hairs  and  care-worn,  but 
meek  and  placid  countenance,  attracted  Bryan's  attention. 
He  was  quartered  in  a  noisy  barrack  room  ;  and  M'Alister 
overheard  him  reprove  some  blasphemous  language  from 
a  half  drunken  soldier,  in  terms  that  left  no  doubt  on  his 
mind  as  to  the  religious  feeling  of  the  old  man.  Politely 
introducing  himself,  he  received  ample  confirmation  of  his 
hope ;  and  finding  that  Basil,  as  his  new  acquaintance  was 
called,  possessed  the  manner  of  one  accustomed  to  far  dif- 
ferent society,  he  consulted  his  family,  prevailed  on  the 
soldiers  to  resign  the  smaller  of  their  two  apartments,  and 
conducted  the  old  man  to  a  home  which  he  entered  with 
expressions  of  the  dt-epest  thankfulness. 

Hitherto,  no  demonstration  of  an  actual  attack  had  been 
made  against  the  city  ;  but  on  the  very  evening  following 
that  of  Basil's  reception  into  his  family,  Bryan  entered, 
accompanied  as  usual  by  Ross,  and  communicated  the  in- 
telligence, that  the  combined  Irish  and  French  army,  with 
James  at  their  head,  would  immediately  appear  to  demand 
that  surrender  which  the  traitor  Lundy  and  his  confede- 
rates had  assured  them  of  A  capitulation  had  indeed 
been  agreed  upon  by  most  of  the  leading  men — some  as- 
senting through  intimidation,  while  others  acted  on  the 
treacherous  principle,  or  rather  want  of  principle,  which 
swayed  their  leader.  The  bulk  of  the  people,  however, 
were  strenuously  opposed  to  this  measure  ;  and  in  answer 
to  the  anxious  inquiries  of  the  trembling  females,  Bryan 
assured  them,  that  the  citizens'  resolution  was  unalter- 
able. 

"  Aye  !"  exclaimed  Ross,  "we'll  hang  the  rascals  over 
the  gates,  before  we  open  them  to  the  popish  army." 

"  Limdy,"  added  Bryan,  "  has  nearly  cast  away  all 
semblance  of  decency.  His  villany  in  trying  to  keep  Mr. 
Walker  outside  the  walls,  after  all  his  faithful  and  gallant 


DERRY.  67 

conduct,  was  insufferable.     You  know  that  his  little  party 
only  got  in  by  downright  force." 

"  I  do  not  like  to  hear  of  a  lighting  clergyman,"  remark- 
ed Letitia  ;  '•  and  they  say  Mr.  Walker  is  one." 

"  He  has  rendered  us  most  important  service,  however," 
rejoined  her  brother,  "  and  helpless  as  we  are,  we  must 
not  quarrel  with  his  voluntary  aid." 

At  this  moment  another  of  the  apprentice  youths  en- 
tered in  breathless  haste  and  agitation,  exclaiming  "  AI'Al- 
ister — Ross — sure  boys,  you've  lost  a  most  edifying  scene ! 
You  know  how  our  trusty  governor  and  his  crew  have 
been  deliberating  with  closed  doors,  even  denying  admit- 
tance to  Crofton  and  his  true  fellow-soldiers. — Well,  what 
think  you  was  the  result  ]  Just  a  resolution  to  send  back 
the  supplies  from  England,  and  to  go  forth  en  masse,  with 
halters  about  their  necks,  in  prostrate  submission  to  King 
James." 

"  Halters !"  ejaculated  Brj^an,  Ross,  and  Shane  in  a 
breath. 

"  Nay,  I  won't  swear  to  the  halters  ;  but  a  most  abject 
submission  was  resolved  on.  The  greater  number  of 
white-livered  poltroons,  overawed  by  the  lying  represen- 
tations of  others,  signed  it ;  but  two  or  three  honest  fel- 
lows refused,  and  gave  a  hint  to  the  people  without,  who 
surrounded  the  doors,  and  very  audibly  promised  to  treat 
both  governor  and  council  with  a  swing.  Yet  we  verily 
think  that  an  oificial  communication  has  been  dispatched, 
and  some  agreement  propounded  to  his  popish  majesty. 
And  if  it  comes  to  that  the  villains  may  settle  the  ratifica- 
tion in  person,  for  we  11  shoot  them  from  our  cannons' 
mouths  into  the  enemy's  teeth." 

"  Aye,  that  will  we  !"  exclaimed  Ross.     "  Let's  be  off, 
M'Alister,  we  are  wanted." 

With  a  hasty  fareweU,  Bryan  tore  himself  from  his 
trembling  mother  and  sisters,  accompanying  his  fiery  com- 


68  DERRY. 

rades ;  while  Magrath,  who  had  privately  left  the  apart- 
ment to  summon  Basil,  attended  him  into  the  room  ;  and 
in  considerable  agitation,  placed  himself  behind  the  Lady's 
chair. 

"  Oh,  these  are  heavy  crosses !"  said  the  old  man,  as  he 
looked  on  the  party  before  him,  "  but  to  God's  children 
they  are  mercli'ul  chastisements,  not  wrathful  visitations. 
Let  us  bow  the  knee,  dear  ladies,  to  him  who  is  near  when 
troubles  press  the  hardest.  Prayer,  prayer  is  the  balsam 
for  all  wounds," 

They  kneeled ;  and  Magrath,  instead  of  retiring  as  usu- 
al, remained  with  his  clasped  hands  resting  on  the  chair's 
back,  and  his  forehead  bowed  upon  them  :  his  intense 
anxiety  had  not  been  unnoticed ;  and  while  it  somewhat 
soothed  their  leelings,  it  tended  also  to  increase  their 
fears. 

"  You  could  tell  us  much,  Magrath,"  said  Mrs.  M'Alis- 
ter,  looking  earnestly  at  him. 

"  No,  Madam  :  not  more  than  you  know,  or  can  guesa 
at,  any  how.  But  it's  myself  can  tell  you,  that  not  a  hair 
of  your  heads  shall  be  touched,  while  Larry  Magrath  has 
a  drop  in  his  veins  to  shed  for  you.*' 

"  Oh,  and  will  there  be  fighting  V  cried  Ellen. 

"  Be  calm,  my  love  j"  replied  her  mother :  "  there  will 
be  nothing  but  what  the  Lord  permits." 

"  But  Bryan — our  own  Bryan  !" 

The  mother  could  only  reply  by  a  fresh  burst  of  tears, 
while  the  Lady,  raising  her  eyes,  said,  "  The  buckler  of 
the  Highest  is  around  him :  the  eye  of  a  reconciled  Father 
is  upon  him :  the  prayer  of  faith  still  bears  him  before  the 
throne,  our  treasure — our  precious  boy  :' — her  voice  fail- 
ed, and  Basil  added,  "  The  only  son  of  his  mother,  and 
she  a  widow." 

There  was  something  in  the  allusion  that  fell  sweetly 
upon  every  heart :  a  grateful  smile  beamed  through  the 


DERRY.  69 

mother's  tears,  as  she  said,  "  I  will  think  of  Naiu,  and  trust, 
and  not  be  afraid." 

Neither  Bryan  nor  the  soldiers  returned  to  the  house 
that  night,  but  the  former  sent  a  cheering  message  ;  desir- 
ing them  to  persevere  in  prayer,  for  that  a  great  crisis  was 
at  hand,  and  help  would  not  be  withheld  by  him  who  was 
mighty  to  save. 

On  the  following  morning,  by  sun-rise,  Bryan  took  post 
on  the  flat  roof  of  the  cathedral,  and  beheld  a  scene  well 
calculated  to  thrill  his  every  nerve.  As  far  as  the  eye 
could  reach,  dense  columns  of  infantry,  shrouded  at  times 
in  the  dust  raised  by  vast  bodies  of  horse,  approached  the 
devoted  spot.  Situated  within  an  abrupt  bend  of  Lough 
Foyle,  Derry  is  two-thirds  surrounded  by  its  waters,  at 
that  spot  not  more  than  half  a  mile  in  width.  Not  only 
was  the  town  in  process  of  investment  by  a  line  of  troops, 
whose  extreme  right  and  left  rested  on  the  edge  of  the 
Lough  ;  but  batteries  were  being  erected  on  the  opposite 
side,  and  the  prophet's  imagery — "  a  lodge  in  a  garden  of 
cucumbers,  a  besieged  city,"  presented  itself  to  the  mind 
of  young  M'Alister,  with  a  force  and  a  pathos  that  dimmed 
his  bright  eye,  as  he  scanned  the  accumulating  host  with- 
out, and  pondered  on  the  treacherous  leaven  that  wrought 
on  the  multitudes  within.  Eager  interest  in  the  scene,  as 
it  regarded  his  country  and  his  faith,  together  with  the  ar- 
dent risings  of  inherent  courage,  soon  overcame  these  sad- 
dening feelings,  and  aided  by  a  small  telescope,  he  took  a 
scrutinizing  survey  of  the  advancing  foe. 

Proudly  waving  on  the  breeze,  he  descried  the  royal 
standard  of  England,  which  left  upon  his  mind  no  doubt 
of  James's  personal  approach,  at  the  head  of  his  army,  sur- 
rounded by  a  galaxy  of  nobles  and  commanders,  whose 
armour  flashed  in  the  far  distance.  It  was,  indeed,  that 
unhappy  and  misguided  tool  of  priestcraft,  who,  after  exer- 
cising in  Dublin  the  brief  authority  again  acquired  in  a 
7 


70  DERRY. 

manner  sufficient  to  prove  his  infatuated  devotion  to  the 
will  of  spiritual  tyrants,  now  came  to  overawe  by  his  kingly 
presence  the  cluster  of  determined  Protestants  encaged 
within  those  walls.  And  it  had  surely  been  an  easy  con- 
quest, but  for  the  Omnipotent  Guardian  of  a  praying  peo- 
ple— a  small  number,  who  mingled  in  the  mass,  nerved  by 
their  incessant  supplications  the  arms  which  were  too 
prone  to  boast  as  though  their  own  strength  upheld  them. 
Wonderful  indeed  were  the  incidents  of  that  protracted 
siege, and  most  astonishing  the  deliverances  vouchsafed. 
Let  the  praise  be  rendered  to  him  who  wills  not  that  his 
glory  be  given  to  others. 

The  flat  roof  of  Derry  Cathedral  furnished  at  once  a 
post  of  observation  and  a  battery  ;  and  while,  beneath,  tlie 
word  of  life  was  dealt  forth,  the  engines  of  destruction  stood 
ready  charged  above,  to  sweep  immortal  souls  fi-om  earth, 
to  the  judgment-seat.  The  thought  pressed  heavily  on 
Bryan's  spirit  as  the  front  of  war  expanded  before  his  gaze  : 
but  his  reveries  were  quickly  interrupted  by  the  ascent  of 
many  eager  footsteps,  while  the  citizens  crowded  to  par- 
take the  commanding  view.  One  of  these  presently 
pointed  out  to  Bryan  a  party  of  cavalry,  exultingly  an- 
nouncing them  as  belonging  to  Colonel  Murray,  a  faithful 
and  gallant  ally,  who,  at  the  head  of  his  troop,  galloped  up 
to  the  ship-quay  gates,  demanding  entrance. 

"  See,  see  !  "  exclaimed  Bryan's  informant,  "  if  the  vil- 
lainous governor  have  not  refused  them  admittance,  after 
lighting  their  way  thus  far  !  " 

A  rope  was  now  brought  to  that  part  of  the  walls,  and 
an  ofFiT  evidently  made  to  admit  Murray  singly  by  such 
unmilitary  conveyance ;  while  a  messenger  from  the 
Council  directed  the  transaction.  Colonel  Murray  wheeled 
his  horse,  in  marked  disdain,  and  addressed  a  few  words  to 
his  followers ;  but  ere  he  could  conclude,  the  gate  was 
flung  wide  by  the  officer  in  command ;  and  greeted  with 


DERRY.  71 

the  loudest  acclamations,  Murray  led  his  men  into  the 
town,  where  he  was  presently  hemmed  in  by  the  agitated 
populace  imploring  his  assistance  against  their  betrayers. 
The  party  on  the  cathedral  rapidly  descended  to  join  their 
voices  with  the  rest. 

A  night  of  fears  had  ended,  and  the  morning  had 
brought  to  the  household  of  M'Alister  tidings  confirmatory 
of  their  worst  surmises.  On  the  first  assurance  that  the 
enemy  was  actually  taking  post  around  the  walls,  Shane 
had  sallied  forth ;  and  Magrath  appeared  disposed  to  fol- 
low, but  was  withheld  by  the  entreaties  of  the  girls.  A 
short,  but  encouraging  visit  from  Malcolm  revived  in  some 
measure  their  fainting  spirits  ;  and  several  of  Bryan's  young 
companions  looked  in  from  time  to  time,  with  a  few  hasty 
words,  often  of  contradictory  import.  The  Bible  lay  open 
before  the  Lady,  and  many  a  promise  did  she  cull  from 
its  abundant  stores,  to  sustain  her  own  firm  mind — now 
tried  to  its  utmost  stretch — as  well  as  those  of  her  less  en- 
ergetic companions.  Magrath,  indeed,  was  energy  era- 
bodied,  as  he  paced  the  room,  and  busied  himself  in  every 
imaginable  way,  to  curb  his  impatience.  No  countenance 
exhibited  so  intense  an  expression  of  quick  and  watchful 
solicitude :  he  seemed  on  the  very  tip-toe  of  eager  expec- 
tation, mingled  with  most  painful  doubts.  Basil  showed 
the  calm  endurance  of  one  too  well  acquainted  with  such 
scenes  ;  and  assisted  the  Lady  in  her  task  of  consolation. 

The  tumult  occasioned  by  Murray's  reception  had  now 
subsided ;  and  its  origin  had  been  explained  by  a  passing 
friend,  who  described  it  as  a  most  auspicious  event.  An- 
other half  hour  elapsed,  and  with  increasing  anxiety  the 
coming  of  Bryan  was  expected  ;  when  suddenly  a  thun- 
dering peal  of  artillery  burst  forth,  the  roar  of  cannon 
drowning  the  fainter  report  of  musquetry,  while  every 
building  seemed  to  rock,  and  every  roof  to  respond  the 
dreadful  salutation.     For  a  moment  it  paused  j  and  then 


72 


DERBY. 


the  shrieks  of  terror  might  be  heard,  resounding  from 
streets  and  neighboring  houses ;  but  again  the  batteries  re- 
newed their  fierce  explosion,  and  clouds  of  smoke  rolled 
by,  impregnating  every  breath  with  their  sulphureous 
effluvia. 

What  words  may  suffice  to  portray  the  agony  of  those 
bewildered  females  1  The  dreadful  reality  was  at  length 
arrived ;  the  substance  of  those  troubled  visions  which  had 
frequently  haunted  their  pillow,  and  even  in  the  brightest 
hours  of  day  overclouded  their  minds  with  foreboding  ap- 
prehension. It  was  come ;  and  terrible  indeed  was  that 
hour.  A  vague  desire  to  flee  from  the  surrounding  peril, 
was  immediately  succeeded  by  a  deep  consciousness  that 
no  possible  way  of  escape  existed  for  them.  Enclosed  on 
every  side,  they  must  await  the  issue  ;  and  await  it  they 
did  in  meek  and  holy  resignation.  No  scream  escaped 
them,  no  violent  contortion  appeared  :  they  gazed  on  each 
other,  and  on  Basil,  and  simultaneously  kneeled  down,  but 
to  articulate  was  impossible  as  it  would  have  been  vain, 
amid  that  deafening  uproar :  Magrath  wrung  his  hands,  and 
struck  repeatedly  upon  his  breast — now  he  hurried  to- 
wards the  door,  and  then  lingered  and  went  back,  when 
some  imploring  eye  turned  towards  him.  Poor  Ellen  was 
soon  seized  with  a  violent  cough,  as  the  tainted  air  assailed 
her  tender  lungs,  and  he  hastened  to  procure  a  cup  of  water ; 
then  looked  to  the  entrance  of  the  house,  as  resolved  to 
issue  forth ;  but  she  grasped  his  arm,  and  uttered  a  cry. 

In  the  name  of  all  the  saints,  Miss  Ellen  dear,  do,  do  let 
me  go  see  for  the  master,"  he  said,  when  an  interval  of 
the  firing  allowed  of  it.  His  arm  was  immediately  liber- 
ated ;  but  before  he  could  reach  the  door,  his  egress  was 
impeded. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


"  Your  handkerchiefs,  girls,  your  handkerchiefs !" 
shouted  Bryan,  as  he  dashed  into  the  room,  followed  by 
two  or  three  more  ;  and  he  snatched  them  from  the  aston- 
ish'^d  females,  rending  them  in  two,  and  tossing  the  divided 
portions  to  his  companions  :  who,  as  well  as  himself,  pro- 
ceeded most  busily  to  fasten  each  of  them  a  fragment 
round  his  right  arm. 

Again  the  cannon  thundered,  and  again  ceased,  with  a 
longer  pause  than  before  :  and  Bryan  was  able  to  reply  to 
the  broken  sentences  of  mingled  joy  and  terror. 

*'  Oil,  such  a  deliverance  !  Murray,  gallant  Murray, 
has  it  all  on  his  own  way.  No  surrender  !  James  is  re- 
treating  the  Council  stole  off " 

"  And  Lundy  1"  asked  Magrath. 
"  Gone  to  the  bottomless  pit,  for  aught  we  can  make 
out,"  replied  some  of  the  young  men. 

"And  this,"  continued  Bryan,  striking  his  left  hand 
forcibly  on  the  linen  that  encircled  his  right  arm,  "  this 
is  the  badge  of  No  Surrender.  We  who  wear  it  are 
sworn  to  perish  to  a  man,  rather  than  hear  of  capitulation." 
"  Good  luck  to  you,  then,"  exclaimed  Magrath,  trium- 
phant delight  blazing  in  his  countenance,  while  the  guns 
drowning  the  remainder  of  his  speech,  he  tore  his  neck- 


74  DERRY. 

erchief  in  two,  and  threw  the  half  of  it  to  Basil,  twisting 
the  other  round  his  own  arm 

"  And  now,  Mr.  Bryan,  Sir," — for  Magrath  never 
called  him  M'Alister ; — "  when  the  cat's  away,  the  mice 
will  play,  as  uncle  says.  And  I'm  after  your  Honor  to 
the  last  drop  " again  the  cannon  could  alone  be  heard. 

Old  Shane  now  bustled  in,  as  the  young  men  hastened 
out ;  and  seeing  Magrath  with  the  badge,  bestowed  on 
him  a  cordial  embrace — then,  throwing  himself  into  his 
chair,  answered  the  queries  that  flowed  in  upon  him,  with 
a  confirmation  of  the  tidings,  that  the  besiegers  were  cast 
into  great  panic. 

"  And  will  they  not  come  here,  then  V  asked  Ellen, 
eagerly. 

"  Here  !  Och,  bless  your  simple  heart ;  why,  it  isn't 
in  them  to  look  at  the  walls !  Out  and  out  frightened 
they  were,  from  the  minute  the  boys  let  loose  the  gun- 
powder. There's  a  gay  chap  killed,  they  say,  as  close  to 
King  James  as  the  pratee  to  the  stalk  ;  and  himself 's  off  at 
a  hand  gallop,  out  of  reach  clane  and  entirely,  to  complain 
to  Pope  Joan,  may  be." 

"  Oh,  brother,"  said  Basil,  "  do  not  exult  over  a  fallen 
king !  Unhappy  as  guilty,  he  is  betrayed  by  others  ; — 
and  even  here  he  came  to  look  for  homage,  and  dreamed 
not  of  resistance." 

"  True,  for  you.  Sir ;  may  be  he  didn't  know  that  we 
have  but  few  Jacobites  here,"  replied  the  old  man,  rather 
bitterly. 

"  He  is  no  Jacobite,  Shane,"  said  the  Lady  ;  "  but  he 
feels  that  a  head  once  anointed  is  no  meet  object  for  mock- 
ery. Let  us  rather  pray  that  his  present  sufferings  may 
lead  him  to  repentance." 

"Your  Ladyship  can,  sure,"  answered  Shane,  sulkily: 
adding,  in  a  lower  tone,  "  it's  myself  that'll  fight  for  King 
William,  let  who  will  pray  for  old  James." 


DERRY.  75 

The  assurance  of  no  attack  from  without  being  contem 
plated,  somewhat  reconciled  the  household  to  the  dis- 
charges which  at  intervals  still  shook  their  abode  ;  and  in 
the  evening  they  were  gladdened  by  a  visit  from  Malcolm 
and  Ross,  who  brought  a  promise  of  Bryan's  appearance  : 
a  temporary  couch  was  formed  for  poor  Ellen,  whose  dis- 
order was  greatly  aggravated  by  the  impregnation  of  the 
air  with  gunpowder.  Magrath,  who  had  returned  with 
Ross,  occupied  his  usual  place  a  little  in  the  rear  of 
Shane's  seat  by  the  chimney  corner. 

An  occasional  cannonade,  interrupting  the  repose  of 
their  little  apartment,  furnished  a  striking  commentary  on 
the  pious  and  appropriate  remarks  of  the  Lady  and  Mal- 
colm. The  latter  seemed  to  be  still  in  a  state  of  much 
excitement ;  and  frequently  paced  the  room,  or  stood 
within  the  attentive  circle,  who  hung  upon  his  words. 

"  It  was  marvellous,"  he  said,  "  to  behold  the  spirit 
which  animated  our  heterogeneous  mass  of  population 
when  the  enemy  drew  on  towards  the  walls.  Mutual 
mistrust  had  chilled  their  spirits,  and  unnerved  many  an 
arm.  Unable  to  look  to  an  invisible  Leader,  the  multi- 
tude had  no  rallying  point,  no  common  centre  of  respect 
and  obedience,  hope  and  confidence,  until  the  good  provi- 
dence of  God  sent  them  that  true-hearted  Murray,  round 
whom  they  rallied  to  a  man.  I  trust  that  he  is  the  Gideon 
raised  up  to  deliver  our  afflicted  Israel ;  the  more  so,  as 
his  presence  struck  an  almost  supernatural  panic  into 
those  traitors  of  the  council-board,  sending  them  self-ex- 
iled from  the  spot,  reluctantly  to  disprove  their  own  un- 
principled misrepresentations." 

"And  judge  you,"  asked  the  Lady,  "that  all  who  re- 
main are  faithful  V 

"  Of  leading  men,  unquestionably  so  ;  and  among  the 
troops  heroic  ardor  prevails.  Our  own  citizens  have 
never  wavered  in  fidelity,  though  some  were  for  a  space 


76  DERRY. 

deluded  by  specious  pretences  of  assured  defeat.  The 
first  roar  of  our  artillery  broke  many  a  spell,  and  scattered 
the  fears  of  hundreds.  I  doubt  not  but  the  arm  of  the  Lord 
is  on  our  side  ;  and  that  he  will  gird  us  with  strength  unto 
the  battle.  May  he  glorify  himself,  be  it  by  the  mortal 
weal  or  woe  of  his  chosen  ones !  Blood  will  flow  even 
within  these  walls ;  and  the  Foyle  may  carry  a  crimson 
streak  into  the  northern  main.  We  are  compassed  on 
every  side  ;  they  come  about  us  like  bees :  and  yonder 
Sennacherib  will  lie  down  among  his  motley  host  this 
night,  counting,  perchance,  on  a  banquet  of  carnage  for 
the  morrow,  but  our  Shepherd  Avatches  his  fold,  and  the 
wolves  approach  in  vain :  for  we,  even  we,  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord,  will  destroy  them." 

"Alas,  alas!"  said  the  old  stranger,  "that  ever  the 
carnal  weapon  should  be  drawn  to  fight  the  battles  of  the 
Lord's  people!  Better  yield  our  throats  to  the  knife,  as 
befits  the  character  of  sheep  for  the  slaughter." 

"  You  speak  not  well,  brother,"  observed  Malcolm  ; — 
"  we  defend  the  ark  from  a  company  of  uncircumcised 
Philistines,  who  seek  its  capture.  Know  you  not  that 
herein  is  the  very  citadel  of  the  Protestant's  faith,  and 
that  he  who  is  on  the  Lord's  side  must  draw  the  sword  as 
of  old  ?" 

"  You  are  a  minister.  Sir,"  answered  Basil,  meekly. — 
"  It  is  not  for  me  to  gainsay  your  words.  But  he,  too, 
was  a  minister  whose  teaching  1  followed  ;  aye,  and  fol- 
low it  yet,  hoping  that  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  like 
him  1  shall  go  down  in  peace  to  the  grave,  and  my  spirit 
rejoice  before  the  throne,  with  my  master,  my  glorified 
master,  precious  holy  Bedell." 

The  old  man  bent  his  face  on  his  hands,  and  tears  flowed 
over  them;  the  name  of  Bedell  had  operated  variously 
upon  the  assembled  party.  The  Lady  raised  herself  up, 
and  her  eyes  sparkled  with  momentary  fire.     Deep  inter- 


DERRY.  77 

est  spoke  in  the  features  of  the  younger  people.  Mal- 
colm, as  he  stood,  looked  down  upon  the  aged  sufferer 
with  reverential  sympathy  ;  and  Magrath,  resting  his 
elbows  on  his  knees,  with  chin  propped  on  his  hands — 
his  favorite  posture  of  attention— gazed  upon  the  stranger, 
as  if  awaiting  in  eager  curiosity  for  what  was  to  follow. 

"And  did  you  really  know  the  blessed  Bedell  1"  asked 
Ellen,  raising  her  pale  cheek  from  its  pillow. 

"Know  him !  Ah,  young  lady,  I  was  born  and  cradled 
under  his  roof,  nourished  and  brought  up  in  his  doctrme. 
I  was  the  companion  of  his  imprisonment,  I  supported  his 
dying  head,  I  bent  over  his  grave  ;"  and  again  the  recol- 
lection overcame  him. 

"My  brother,"  said  the  young  minister,  gently  and 
affectionately  placing  his  hand  on  the  silver  hairs,  "be 
collected.  He  who  has  been  thus  privileged  is  steward  of 
a  gift,  not  to  be  WTapped  up  in  the  hidings  of  selfish  sor- 
row, but  liberally  imparted  to  the  starving  church  of 
Christ." 

"  I  know  it,  I  know  it ;  and  many  a  faint  heart  has 
waxed  strong  under  the  hearing  of  what  I  love  to  tell.  It 
is  only  now,  weakened  by  age  and  many  trials,  and  sur- 
rounded by  scenes  at  once  so  like  and  so  unlike  to  those 
that  were — it  is  only  now  that  nature  rebels."  He  gazed 
round  him,  and  seemed  to  derive  encouragement  from  the 
expression  of  so  many  inquiring  looks. 

The  entrance  of  Bryan  and  Shane  completed  the  circle  : 
the  former  took  his  station  by  the  invalid,  surprised  at  the 
animation  of  her  countenance  ;  and  while  she  explained 
the  cause,  Shane  received  some  communication  from  his 
nephew,  which  appeared  to  brighten  his  faculties,  fatigued 
as  he  was,  into  something  like  corresponding  attention. 

"My  father,"  said  Basil,  after  humbly  bowing  to  his 
hearers,  "  was  the  confidential  domestic  of  that  holy  man. 
He  accompanied  the  bishop  from  Suffolk  to  this  country, 


'78  DERRY. 

enjoying  a  place  in  his  affection  that  bespoke  for  me,  his 
only  child,  the  tender  concern  of  our  benevolent  master, 
when  I  was  left,  a  helpless  orphan  in  his  house,  my  mother 
having  died  at  the  time  of  my  birth,  and  my  father  within 
two  years  after.  The  bishop  took  on  himself  the  care  of 
my  education ;  and  many  an  hour  of  proud  enjoyment 
have  I  passed,  seated  at  my  little  desk  beside  the  good 
man's  chair,  transcribing  from  his  manuscript  that  best 
monument  of  Bedell's  fame,  the  Irish  Bible." 

"  There,  my  Lady  !"  exclaimed  Shane,  exultingly  ;  and 
the  Lady  had  already  taken  the  hand  of  the  venerable 
narrator.  "  Blessed  old  man,"  she  said,  "  in  the  name  of 
my  lacerated  country,  let  me  thank  you  for  the  oil  and  the 
wine  that  can  alone  pour  healing  into  her  wounds.  This 
hand  has  wrought  with  that  good  Samaritan,  and  my  roof 
is  honored  to  shelter  it.  Oh,  never,  never  shall  my  coun- 
try know  the  sweets  of  permanent  peace,  until  that  work 
commenced  by  Bedell  be  perfected :  until  the  fountain 
dug  by  his  pious  labor,  be  cleared  from  all  obstructions, 
and  widened,  and  caused  to  flow  in  a  thousand  ready 
channels,  spreading  through  the  thirsty  land  those  rivers 
of  the  water  of  life  !" 

"Never!"  responded  Basil.  "  He  said  it  many  a  time 
to  whom,  for  the  prophetic  work,  a  prophet's  spirit  seemed 
given.  But  alas !  Lady,  how  few  among  her  own  tribes 
seek  Ireland's  welfare  as  he  sought  it,  whom  you  rightly 
term  a  Samaritan  ;  an  alien,  held  accursed  by  those  for 
whom  he  toiled,  until  his  deeds  disarmed  their  deadly 
hatred,  and  awed  it  into  love." 

A  general  assent  was  given,  and  Basil  resumed.  "  The 
tale  of  forty-one  is  written  in  letters  of  blood  on  some 

memories'' he  paused,  for  Malcolm  gave  a  sign  ;  and 

again  proceeded.  "  I  was  still  a  youth,  but  hardy  and 
strong  ;  and  courageous  in  the  cause  of  my  beloved  mas- 
ter and  his  family.     There  lacked  not  among  us  those  who 


DERRY.  79 

would  have  repelled  violence,  and  built  a  barrier  round 
him  with  our  slaughtered  bodies.  Nay,  I  wrong  many 
in  not  including  all  his  flock.  But  it  was  his  care  to  re- 
present the  duty  of  resting  solely  upon  the  invisible  arm 
of  Jehovah;  and  while  his  dwelling  and  his  church  were 
thronged  with  faithful  adherents,  no  breath  was  ever  heard 
but  that  of  meek  submission  to  the  divine  will.  Dreadful 
were  the  scenes  beyond  our  little  sanctuary  !  within  it  all 
was  peace  and  safety." 

"  And  yet,"  observed  Ross,  "  your  bishop  understood 
the  principle  of  '  No  surrender.'  " 

"  He  did,  Sir ;  and  with  holy  daring  acted  upon  it.  I 
was  with  him  when  that  startling  summons  came,  to  de- 
liver up  the  fugitives  sheltered  in  his  home.  I  saw  the 
many  cheeks  that  were  blanched  with  terror  for  them- 
selves, while  grateful  love  checked  every  wish  for  a  re- 
fusal which  might  expose  his  own  sacred  head  to  the  fury 
of  their  foes.  Aye,  and  I  heard  that  refusal  given  in  tones 
never  to  be  forgotten— so  solemn,  so  powerful,  so  nerved 
with  energy,  and  sweetened  with  humility — while  with 
uncovered  heads,  the  messengers  withdrew  from  the  pre- 
sence of  one  before  whom  their  ferocity  melted  into  awe. 
Oh,  my  master !  Is  it  a  dream,  or  did  I  really  see  thee 
borne  away  from  that  home  \  Did  I  really  rush  through 
a  crowd  of  levelled  pikes,  to  claim,  in  prostrate  supplica- 
tion, the  privilege  of  sharing  thy  dungeon  !" 

"  No  dream,  I'll  engage  you,"  said  Magrath,  abruptly  : 
"  you  got  it  easy,  that  same." 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  other,  "  I  did.  The  rebel  appoint- 
ed to  guard  the  innocent  captives,  had  been  particularly 
obliged  to  me  ;  and  through  his  intercession  I  was  permit- 
ted to  follow,  though  not  to  accompany  my  beloved  mas- 
ter and  his  sons.  Before  ray  departure  I  saw  the  abo- 
mination of  desolation  standing  in  that  place  where  Bedell 
had   offered  to  God  the  sacrifice  of  prayer  and  praise. 


So  DERRY. 

Yes,  I  beheld  the  Host  elevated,  wh'*re  holy  hands  had 
been  lifted  up,  and  weapons  incrusted  with  the  blcjod  of 
the  guiltless,  were  grounded,  while  the  crimson  fingers 
that  bore  them  smote  upon  the  breast,  and  murderers 
yielded  homage  to  the  blighting  mockery."  Indignation 
burnt  on  his  clieck  as  he  recalled  the  scene.  Shane  look- 
ed hard  at  his  nephew  ;  but  the  latter  merely  rompressed 
his  lips,  and  listened  with  undivided  attention. 

Basil  wi-nt  on.  "  I  was  conveyed  to  my  master's  pri- 
son, far  from  the  unhallowed  pageantry  that  desecrated 
his  palace.  I  found  him  enclosed  in  the  tower  of  Loch- 
water,  that  desolate  dwelling  which  arises  from  the  centre 
of  a  lake,  without  so  much  land  about  it  as  might  suffice 
to  support  the  foot.  December's  storms  swept  over  the 
unsheltered  spot,  and  found  entrance  on  every  side,  for  the 
building  was  most  ruinous.  The  few  prisoners  whose 
garments  had  been  left  upon  them,  were  constrained  to 
part  with  all  but  a  slight  portion,  to  cover  the  more  nu- 
merous victims  of  rapacious  cruelty,  stripped  literally  to 
the  skin  by  their  jailors :  and  bitter  were  the  sufTeringH, 
from  cold  and  damp.  Provision  was  liberally  s\ipplied, 
but  in  every  instance,  raw:  so  that  thosi>  who  kmw  any 
thing  of  cooking  were  incessantly  employed  for  the  rest. 
The  good  providence  of  God  sent  a  pious  carpenter  to  be 
our  companion  in  captivity  :  and  by  his  skill  some  little 
repairs  were  effected,  for  which  we  were  most  thankful. 
But  our  best,  our  dearest  pledge  of  Jehovah's  gracious 
presence  we  received  in  the  unlocked  for  permission  from 
our  keepers  of  worshiping  together,  according  to  the  ac- 
customed rites  of  our  church.  No  interruption  assailed 
us :  and  deeply  sunk  the  word  of  exhortation  into  our  bo- 
soms, from  those  revered  lips  that  never  ceased  to  proclaim 
the  unchangeable  love  of  God,  under  whatsoever  dispen- 
sation his  wisdom  laid  us." 


DERRY.  81 

"Answer  me  tliis  question,"  said  Magrath,  with  a  look 
of  restless  impatience,  "  will  you  answer  me  truly  (" 

"  Assuredly,  young  man  :  1  would  not  dare  to  do  other- 
wise." 

"  Well — that  good  man,  that  heretic  Bishop,  did  he  ever 
curse  the  Catholics  with  ye  1" 

"  Och,  the  fool's  head  that'supon  your  shoulders!"  ex- 
claimed iShane  ;  while  Basil  gazed  with  astonishment  on 
the  querist. 

"Answer him!"  exclaimed  the  Lady. 

Basil  now  seemed  for  the  first  time  to  comprehend  that 
a  member  of  the  Komish  church  was  present.  With  a 
look  of  placid  kindness,  he  said,  "  My  answer,  brother,  is 
short,  simple,  and  true.  No  !  as  soon  would  the  sweetest 
springs  of  your  native  plains  send  forth  the  waters  of  bit- 
terness and  corruption,  as  those  lips  could  have  given  ut- 
terance to  a  curse.  But  they  of  whom  you  speak  were 
the  objects  of  his  deepest,  tenderest  sympathy  and  love  ; 
and  thfir  welfare  was  a  constant  theme  of  prayer  in  our 
afflicted  little  congregation." 

"  Come,  now,  you'll  be  after  making  the  best  of  it,  and 
no  blame  to  yourself;  liut  you  won't  pretend  that  you 
prayed  for  the  fellows  who  gave  you  that  lodging,  took  the 
clothes  olf  your  backs,  and  treated  you  like  dogs,  I'll  en- 

gage." 

"  We  did,"  answered  Basil.  "  Our  suflerings  were 
great,  and  our  oppressors  cruel ;  but  morning,  noon,  and 
night  we  made  our  supplication  for  them  ;  thai  the  light 
of  the  gospel,  visiting  their  dark  minds,  might  shew  them 
under  what  deadly  delusion  they  lay.  Every  murmur 
excited  by  our  own  bodily  pains  was  hushed  by  the  awful 
consideration  of  what  awaited  their  immortal  souls,  blind- 
ed and  ruined  under  the  influence  of  their  false  and  per- 
secuting relisiion." 

"Thafs  enough,"  said  Magrath:  and  folding  his  arms, 
8 


82  DERRY. 

he  leaned  back  against  the  wall,  his  eyes  fixed  on  the 
speaker. 

This  strange  episode  had  excited  no  common  interest 
in  the  little  circle ;  but  all  were  silent,  and  Basil  re- 
sumed, 

"Even  under  thi'se  depressing  circumstances,  the  object 
dearest  to  his  heart — the  Irish  Bible — was  not  forgotten 
by  my  blessed  master.  He  would  urge  me  to  repeat  from 
memory  sucli  portions  as  I  could  recal,  suggesting  im- 
provements. I  was  the  more  encouraged  to  this  work, 
because,  at  such  times,  I  have  seen  the  guards  stealing  to* 
wards  some  aperture  to  listen,  as  the  language  never  faih-d 
to  attract  their  attention." 

"  True  for  ye,"  said  IMagrath :  but  the  words  seemed  to 
drop  unconsciously  from  his  lips. 

Before  the  old  man  could  proceed,  another  discharge 
from  the  batteries  broke  in  upon  the  comparative  repose  ; 
and  a  guard  turned  out  for  the  especial  purpose  of  peram- 
bulating the  street,  inquired  if  all  was  well  within.  A  few 
words  with  them,  determined  the  young  men  on  volun- 
teering their  services  likewise  for  the  night ;  and  after 
joining  in  the  supplications  of  the  family,  they  sallied 
forth,  leaving  on  the  minds  of  their  friends  a  more  anxious 
tremor  than  had  ever  before  accompanied  the  unwilling 
farewell. 

Shane's  curiosity  had  been  violently  excited  on  more 
than  one  occasion  during  that  eventful  day.  His  nephew, 
from  the  moment  of  assuming  the  badge,  had  appeared  to 
throw  off  a  painful  restraint,  and  to  attach  himself  with 
unfeigned  cordiality  to  a  cause  against  which  he  had  as- 
suredly, not  long  before,  harbored  evil  designs  ;  a  circum- 
stance to  Shane  quite  unaccountable.  The  unexpected 
and  unwonted  share  which  he  had  taken  in  the  evening's 
conversation  also  perplexed  him  ;  for  ]\Iagrath's  general 
deportment  was  marked  by  the  extreme  of  reserve,  rather 


DERRY.  83 

than  its  opposite.  To  Shane's  drowsy  faculties,  however, 
the  latter  transition  appeared  less  surprising  than  the  former : 
but  with  the  Lady  of  M'Alister,  it  was  far  otherwise.  She 
rightly  attributed  his  morning  animation  to  a  relief  from 
painful  forebodings  as  to  the  sufferings  awaiting  the 
family,  whose  kindness  to  him  had  evidently  sunk  deep 
into  his  mind  ;  and  also  to  the  removal  of  that  restraint 
under  which  the  fear  of  meeting  Lundy  had  kept  him. 
To  the  cause,  as  such,  she  could  not  suppose  him  attach- 
ed ;  but  to  Bryan  exceedingly  so  5  and  she  verily  believ- 
ed that  an  affectionate  desire  to  watch  over  his  personal 
safety,  was  the  motive  of  Magrath,  in  adopting  the  prevail- 
ing badge.  A  more  inexplicable  mystery  involved  his 
evening  conduct.  The  acquaintance  which  he  seemed  to 
have  with  many  particulars  related  by  Basil,  was  not  very 
wonderful,  the  events  being  comparatively  recent,  and 
strong  in  the  memory  of  those  who  survived  the  scenes  of 
1641  ;  but  there  was  an  intense  interest,  an  eager  curiosi- 
ty in  his  aspect ;  and  an  unmoved  endurance  of  reflections 
on  his  country's  faith,  from  the  lips  of  a  Protestant  and  an 
Englishman,  which  formed  a  strange  contrast  with  his 
fiery  impatience  under  the  reproach  of  Ross.  The  subject 
haunted  her  pillow,  and  prompted  many  an  aspiration  on 
behalf  of  the  intractable  object  of  her  frequent  endeavors? 
while  she  counted  the  hours  whose  flight  brought  on  the 
wished  yet  dreaded  dawning  of  another  day. 

It  was  upon  the  18th  of  April  that  the  dethroned  mon- 
arch met  his  un looked  for  repulse  before  the  walls  of 
Derry  ;  and  the  next  day  beheld  him  on  the  road  towards 
Dublin,  there  to  concert  farther  measures  for  the  recovery 
of  his  abdicated  throne.  No  hostile  act  was  committed  on 
either  side  during  the  two  succeeding  daj's,  save  in  the 
silent  but  busy  work  of  offensive  and  defensive  preparation. 
Bryan  was  incessantly  occupied  among  the  citizens  and 
soldiers,  both  of  whom  repeiveJ  with  deference  the  sugges- 


84  DERRY. 

lionsof  his  intelligent  and  judicious  mind.  In  his  peram- 
bulations, Magrath  was  always  at  iiand  ;  and  evidenced 
the  sincerity  of  his  good-will  by  furnishing  many  valuable 
hints,  both  in  the  way  of  information  and  precaution,  for 
his  master's  benefit  ;  but  Bryan  ffmarked  that  the  mea- 
sures which  he  seemed  to  approve  were  strictlv  defensive  ; 
and  in  this,  though  on  dillennt  grounds,  thiir  feelings  co- 
incided. 

"  How  I  long  for  the  Sabbath  !"  exclaimed  Letitia,  as 
the  evening  preceding  it  closed  in.  "  We  shall  all  assem- 
ble in  the  house  of  God,  and  raise  the  united  voice  of  sup- 
plication." 

"  And  set  up  our  Ebenezer,"  added  her  mother. 

"  And  will  my  dear  Ellen  likewise  venture  !'  asked 
Bryan. 

"Oh  yes,  brother  dear  ;  these  two  quiet  days  have  re- 
freshed me,  and  I  feel  quite  strong.  I  long  to  tread  the 
courts  of  the  Lord's  house  too :  and  I  have  a  sort  of  fearful 
curiosity  to  pass  through  the  street,  and  look  upon  the  pre- 
parations, and  to  be  made  to  feel  how  precious  it  is  to  have 
the  Lord  for  a  very  present  help." 

"  May  it  be  a  Sabbath  of  peace  !"  said  the  old  lady  ; 
and  she  looked  at  Bryan,  whose  downcast  eyes  spoke  lit- 
tle of  encouragement  to  her  hope. 

In  fact,  it  had  been  decided  to  make  a  sortie  from  the 
walls  on  the  morrow,  as  the  planting  of  a  large  gun  very 
near,  seemed  to  menace  a  hostile  attack.  The  design  was 
deprecated  by  those  alone  who  preferred  the  sanctification 
of  the  day  to  the  pursuit  of  a  possible  advantage  ;  and  it 
may  readily  be  believed  that  their  voices  were  faint  and 
few,  compared  with  the  clamors  of  the  many  who  thirsted 
for  vengeance  and  distinction. 

The  morning  came,  and  to  the  cathedral  all  repaired 
who  desired  to  commit  their  cause  unto  the  Lord  of 
Hosts  ;  these  were  so  numerous,  that  a  succession  of  con- 


DERRY.  85 

gregations  filled  the  pile,  a  fresh  crowd  of  worshippers 
Btill  assembling  as  others  departed  ;  and  amongst  them  the 
family  of  M'Alister  sought  the  Lord  with  hearts  united  to 
fear  his  name. 

It  was  awful  and  affecting,  'the  stillness  that  reigned 
over  the  dense  populace  on  the  morning  of  that  day. 
Thronged  as  they  were,  the  streets  yet  wore  the  character 
of  Sabbath  solemnity,  and  the  very  sentinels  appeared  to 
soften  their  measured  tread,  as  they  cast  a  frequent  look  to 
the  azure  sky  ;  with  some,  the  upturned  gaze  bespoke  de- 
votion :  in  others  it  seemed  rather  expressive  of  impa- 
tience, and  in  many  it  indicated  an  anxious  observance  of 
the  weather,  as  though  a  few  gathering  clouds  would  have 
marred  some  design.  The  citizens  of  Derry,  close  pent 
within  its  narrow  bounds  for  more  than  four  months,  already 
bore  the  marks  of  pining  imprisonment  and  protracted 
care  :  while  deeper  anguish  sat  on  the  features  of  those 
homeless  wanderers,  to  whom  the  sacred  season  more  for- 
cibly recalled  the  memory  of  happy  Sabbaths  gone  by 
where  their  place  knew  them  no  more. 

"  It  is  in  such  a  spot  as  this,"  said  a  weeping  mother  aa 
she  passed  through  the  church-yard,  "  that  my  daughter 
lies  buried.  Just  such  a  tender  yew  tree  was  beginning  to 
bud  above  her  grave :  ah,  little  did  I  think  that  stranger 
eyes  should  watch  its  growth,  or  stranger  hands  tear  it  from 
the  sod,  where  I  must  never  hope  to  lay  my  bones  beside  her!' 

"  She  is  better  there,"  replied  a  young  woman,  the 
wildness  of  whose  pallid  looks  contrasted  with  the  melan- 
choly gloom  of  the  former  speaker.  "  Better  in  a  grave — 
any  grave  —than  living  to  weep  over  all  that  was  loved,  and 
is  lost,  and  gone — gone  for  ever" 

"Oh  no!"  said  Letitia,  who  overheard  her,  "say  not 
that  all  is  gone,  while  he  remains  whose  love  for  sinners 
took  the  sting  from  death,    and  victory  from  the    grave. 

8* 


86  DERRY. 

Come  unto  him— for  the  weary  and  the  heavy  laden  shall 
there  find  welcome  and  repose. ' 

Arranged  within  the  building,  how  sweet  to  the  cars  of 
Christ's  little  flock  sounded  the  word  of  promise  and  of 
peace  !  Magrath  had  accompanied  them  to  the  door,  and 
as  he  turned  from  it  a  deeper  sense  of  their  own  inesti- 
mable privileges  filled  each  heart ;  while  compassion  for 
him  added  fervor  to  their  intercessions,  and  earnestly  did 
they  long  to  share  with  him  the  abundance  of  God's  trea- 
sury. 

The  preacher  took  for  his  text  an  animating  promise  of 
deliverance  ;  and  though  the  tenor  of  his  discourse  was 
more  decidedly  warlike  than  fully  accorded  with  the  feel- 
ings of  his  spiritually-minded  auditors,  there  was  much  of 
solid  comfort  in  the  address.  Returning  homeward,  Bryan 
directed  his  grandmother's  attention  to  some  military  men 
who  were  hastening  towards  the  guard-house,  after  attend- 
ing at  the  church.  He  told  her  that  they  were  about  to 
sally  forth  and  attack  the  enemy. 

"  Oh,  Bryan,  that  ought  not  to  be,  on  this  holy  day  ; 
dissuade  them." 

"  It  is  impossible.  Malcolm  and  myself,  with  one  or 
two  others  attempted  it  ;  but  the  clamor  was  overj lower- 
ing. Colonel  Murray  leads  them  on,  and  Mr.  Walker 
leaves  the  pulpit  to  accompany  him." 

"  Then  mark  my  words.  This  desecrated  Sabbath  will 
stand  recorded  against  us  ;  and  many  a  cry  will  ascend  in 
vain  from  those  who  ballow  it  not." 

"  They  are  so  confident  of  immediate  succors  from  the 
king,  that  they  scarcely  anticipate  a  contest  of  a  week." 

"They  must  then  learn  what  it  is  to  put  confidence  in 
princes,  rather  than  in  the  Lord." 

The  culverin  planted  by  the  enemy  now  discharged  its 
heavy  shot — the  first  which  passed  into  the  town — and 
that  shot  whizzing  over  their  heads,  struck  the  market- 
house. 


TERRY.  87 

"  Messenger  of  woe  !"  said  the  Lady,  "  how  many  of  thy 
fellows  shall  bring  havoc  into  our  streets !" 

Basil  had  remained  at  home,  indisposed  ;  and  Br}-an, 
soltly  ascending  to  his  little  apartment,  was  struck  at  hear- 
ing the  old  man's  voice,  with  tones  of  solemn  earnestness 
addressing  another  in  the  Irish  language.  He  paused,  as 
the  name  of  "  Slanuigheora  losa  Criosd,"  the  Savior  Je- 
sus Christ,  met  his  ear,  and  ascertained  that  the  words  were 
those  of  Scripture.  Softly  entering,  he  beheld  Magrath, 
his  face  buried  in  his  hands,  in  an  attitude  of  fixed  atten- 
tion, while  Basil,  with  looks  of  unspeakable  animation,  was 
setting  before  him  the  pure  gospel,  in  the  irresistible  garb 
of  his  own  tongue. 

Bryan  withdrew  unperceived,  to  communicate  the  glad 
tidings  below  stairs:  and  " Blessed  Bedell  I"  burst  from 
the  lips  of  the  old  lady,  while  her  heart  overflowed  with 
thankful  delight. 

But  far  other  works  was  going  on  without  the  walls  ;  and 
after  a  fierce  combat  the  partv  came  back  victorious,  bear- 
ing the  dead  bodies  of  an  olncer  and  several  privates,  who, 
a  few  hours  previously,  had  left  tlie  town  in  confident  ex- 
pectation of  a  triumphant  return.  They  were  hastily  in- 
terred ;  and  while  the  military  exulted  in  the  comparative 
insignificance  of  their  loss,  a  dark  foreboding  overcast  the 
minds  of  many,  with  a  sad  experimental  certainty  that 
havoc  was  indeed  begun. 

The  single  piece  of  ordinance  planted  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  water  had  intlicted  little  damage  on  the  town  ; 
now  at  less  than  half  that  distance,  four  others  commenced 
their  dreadul  greeting  from  a  different  quarter,  and  their 
balls  continually  rebounJing  from  the  tiles,  crashing  the 
window  panes,  and  rattling  through  the  streets,  killed  some, 
inflicted  wounds  on  many,  and  struck  ten-or  into  all.  On 
the  second  day  at'ter  this,  some  mortar  pieces  being  added, 
the  besiegers  thx-ew  bombs  from  them  ;    which  by   their 


88  DERRY. 

noisy  explosion  increased  the  panic  tenfold,  among  those 
altogether  unaccustomed  to  the  liorrors  of  a  siege. 

"  Now,  your  Honor,"  said  Magrath,  as  with  Hryan  he 
bent  his  course  towai-ds  the  house  in  the  evening  of  that 
day,  "  I'm  altogether  not  agreeable  to  going  iiome  to- 
night." 

»  Why  not  V 

"  Oh,  Sir,  but  it's  the  ladies  that  will  be  frightened  to 
purpose  now.  And,  the  sowls !  what  comfort  can  we  give 
'em  '." 

"  The  very  sight  of  us  will  bring  comfort  to  them,  Ma- 
grath  ;  for  I  have  marked  this  day,  while  carnage  has  been 
in  our  streets,  that  those  who  go  forth  are  followed  by  la- 
mentations, as  though  they  went  to  certain  death  ;  and 
their  return  welcomed  with  cries  of  joy.  But  in  our 
home,  I  trust,  we  shall  find  that  the  Lord  himself  is  giving 
strength  according  to  their  day." 

"  Is  it  to-day,  Sir  1"  asked  the  other,  a  little  puzzled. 

Bryan  explained  to  him  the  promise,  but  it  seemed  not 
to  make  much  impression  on  his  mind.  Bryan's  heart 
was  indeed  oppressed  witli  a  grievous  weight :  not  for 
that  the  instruments  of  destruction  had  now  and  again 
crossed  his  own  path — for  himself  he  had  no  fear ;  but 
faith  was  sorely  tried  in  regard  to  those  so  dear  ;  and  the 
consolations  which  his  lip  spontaneously  uttered,  scarcely 
soothed  his  own  bosom  at  the  moment. 

But  the  word  of  the  Lord  is  sure  ;  and  gratefully  did  he 
acknowledge  it ;  for  they  found  the  little  party  calm  be- 
yond all  human  expectation  ;  and  such  a  hol}^  character 
of  resigned  submission  sat  on  every  countenance,  as  ren- 
dered it  far  more  touching  than  the  wildest  distress  could 
have  done. 

"And  isn't  the  life  frightened  out  of  ye  then  V  was 
Magrath's  first  inquiry,  after  the  silent  welcome  of  thank- 
ful love  had  been  bestowed  on  Bryan. 


DERRY.  89 

"We've  been  sadly  frightened  indeed,"  answered  Ellen  : 
"  but  we  prayed,  and  the  Lord  sent  peace." 

"  Wars  and  fightings  without,"  added  the  Lady,  "  but 
peace  within.  Know  you,  Magrath,  who  walked  the  bil- 
lows of  the  roaring  sea,  and  bade  them,  '  Peace,  be  still  C  " 

"  It  was  Jesus  Christ,  or  the  Virgin,  or  one  of  the  Saints, 
I'm  thinking." 

Basil  raised  his  head  ;  and  in  a  clear  tone  he  recited 
the  whole  passage  in  Irish  ;  while  Magrath,  his  mouth 
wide  open,  and  his  eyes  dancing  with  a  peculiar  expres- 
sion of  interested  curiosity  and  pleasure,  gave  earnest  heed 
to  every  breath. 

Has  the  reader  ever  witnessed  the  effect  produced  on  a 
poor  native  Irishman  thrown  among  strangers,  when  the 
sublime  truths  of  Scripture  fall  upon  his  ear,  in  that  lan- 
guage so  unutterably  dear  to  him  '?  Probably  not :  but 
why,  oh,  why  is  it  probable,  reader,  that  you  should  not  1 
Has  not  your  path  been  too  frequently  crossed,  and  your 
step  arrested,  by  the  plaintive  supplicant,  whose  accent 
bespoke  him  a  native  of  Erin,  and  to  v.  hom  the  utterance 
of  his  wants  in  your  language  appeared  difficult  and  un- 
couth 1  Yes :  you  have  met  with  Irish  beggars,  be  your 
habitation  where  it  may  ;  and  if  tlie  love  of  Christ  rule  in 
your  heart,  you  have,  according  to  your  means,  supplied 
their  necessities  ;  but  few  indeed,  in  this  age  of  missions, 
have  bethought  themselves  of  pursuing  a  missionary  work 
at  their  own  doors,  by  the  acquisition  of  that  tongue  in 
which  the  stammering  mendicant  could  be  as  fluent,  as 
eloquent,  as  you  in  your  native  English.  Make  but  the 
inquiry,  and  you  shall  wonder  at  Ihe  result.  And  if  you 
would  be  kindled  into  zeal  on  behalf  of  these  poor  outcast 
victims  of  a  gross  delusion,  so  far  as  means  can  do  it,  go 
forth  among  them  where  they  congregate,  and  take  with 
you  one  who  is  versed  in  the  Celtic  dialect,  bearing  in  his 
hand  the  word  of  life,  and  on  his  heart  the  love  of  souls. 


90  DERRY. 

One  such  scene  is  never  to  be  forgotten  :  and,  blessed  be 
the  CJod  of  the  friendless!  such  scenes  shall  ere  long  be 
more  frequent  in  our  land,  for  the  Lord  is  remembering 
Erin,  and  his  servants  take  pity  to  see  her  children  in  the 
dust  of  spiritual  death.  Yes,  tlirice  blessed  be  his  name  ! 
there  are  young  and  accomplished  females  at  this  moment 
intently  studying  those  characters  so  little  known — so 
grossly  undervalued — for  tlie  sacred  purpose  of  imparting 
to  these  poor  wandering  beggars,  these  perishing  immor- 
tals, what  in  their  own  tongue  they  call  "  the  story  of 
peace,"  and  what  shall,  instrumentally,  convey  to  many  a 
one  among  them  the  rich  gift  of  joy  and  peace  in  believ- 
ing.    May  the  blessing  of  the  Highest  prosper  their  work  ! 

"  How  beautiful  the  language  is,  when  Christ  is  the 
theme  !"  observed  Letitia. 

"  In  what  language  can  the  name  of  Jesus  sound  unwel- 
come 1"  asked  Malcolm,  who  entered  as  she  spoke.  "  The 
thunder  of  war  has  rolled  about  us  this  live-long  day  ;  and 
cries  of  terror,  and  groans  of  anguish  have  mingled  with 
its  roar ;  but,  powerful  above  them  all,  the  name  of  Jesus 
has  prevailed,  to  still  the  throb  of  many  a  bursting  heart, 
and  soften  to  a  prayer  of  resignation  the  scream  of  wild 
dismay.  Oh,  for  the  faith  of  Israel's  King !  '  Therefore 
will  not  we  fear,  though  the  earth  be  removed,  and  though 
the  mountains  be  carried  into  the  midst  of  the  sea,'  for, 
'  The  Lord  of  Hosts  is  with  us  ;  the  God  of  Jacob  is  our 
refuge.'" 

"Ah,  but  he  is  with  us  now  in  anger,"  said  Ellen,  "to 
afflict  and  destroy." 

Malcolm  looked  earnestly  on  her,  and  repeated,  "  The 
mountains  shall  depart,  and  the  hills  be  removed  ;  but  my 
kindness  shall  not  depait  from  thee,  neither  shall  the  cov- 
enant of  my  peace  be  removed,  saith  the  Lord  that  hath 
mercy  on  thee." 

"  No,"  said  Mrs.  M'Alister,  "  that  covenant  cannot  fail. 


DERRY.  91 

Hitherto,  I  have  trembled  and  feared,  and  thought  that  my 
very  heart  would  burst  asunder,  whenever  it  came  to  this 
awful  climax.  But  the  day  is  come,  and  with  it  grace 
sufficient  to  the  time  of  need !  Those  dreadful  bombs,  as 
they  exploded  in  my  hearing,  even  they  have  seemed  to 
utter,  '  Fear  not,'  and  my  weak  spirit  is  enabled  to  res- 
pond, '  It  is  the  Lord,  let  him  do  as  seemeth  him  good.'  " 

"My  daughter!"  exclaimed  the  Lady,  "have  I  not 
ever  told  thee  that  his  faithfulness  could  not  fail  V 

"  Yes,  mother :  but  it  is  the  Lord  who  tells  me  now." 

"  Happy  experience  !"  said  Malcolm.  "  '  1  have  heard 
of  thee  by  the  hearing  of  the  ear,  but  now  mine  eye  seeth 
thee.' — Aged  pilgrim,"  turning  to  Basil,  "  can  you  buffet 
this  storm,  so  nearly  at  the  journey's  end  ]" 

"  Aye,  Sir :  and  I  bless  God  for  it.  I  see  young  trees 
well  rooted  by  its  blast ;  and  tender  blades  of  corn  may 
peep  forth,  when  the  whirlwind  has  scattered  opposing 
rubbish."     The  allusion  to  Magrath  was  evident. 

"  All's  well !"  uttered  the  night-guard  as  they  passed 
the  door :  the  explosion  of  a  bomb  followed,  and  then 
Malcolm  responded,  "  All's  well !  Sin  is  pardoned,  sal- 
vation is  secured,  and  the  children  of  the  promise  sealed 
to  their  eternal  inheritance," 

Then  suddenly  addressing  Magrath,  he  added,  "Brother 
can  you  claim  a  portion  here  \  can  3^ou  join  us  in  the 
glorious  anticipation,  and  utter,  with  assured  conviction, 
that  all  is  well  ?" 

"  May  be  it  is.  Sir,"  answered  Magrath,  coldly. 

"  What !  stake  eternity  upon  a  may-be  V 

Magrath,  yet  more  sullenly,  muttered  something  about 
the  catholic  church. 

"  Out  upon  ye,  for  an  obstinate  Papist !"  ejaculated 
Shane,  "  haven't  we  enough  of  the  catholic  church  out- 
side 1    What  else  is  it  knocking  the  houses  about  our  ears 


92  UERRY. 

this  blessed  night,  but  your  rebelly  church,  ye  spalpeen  \ 
isn't  the  bombs  pretty  boads  to  tell  !" 

"Muslia,  llien,"  said  Magralh,  ''it's  myself  that'll  go 
look  after  uiy  beads,"  and  lie  left  the  house. 

"  How  obdurate  !"  observed  Malcolm. 

"Have  patience,  Sir,"  said  Basil,  "your  query  was  a 
startling  one,  and  may  be  blessed  to  his  soul.  Let  him 
digest  it." 

The  Lady  reproved  Shane  for  his  ill-timed  and  railing 
accusation  ;  but  the  old  man  continued  to  exclaim  against 
his  nephew,  who,  as  he  said,  ought  to  have  been  converted 
in  half  the  time. 

The  word  of  promise  was  then  laid  open  ;  and  amid 
the  din  of  discord,  the  prayer  and  the  hymn  arose.  Mal- 
colm gave  out  a  Psalm  from  the  paraphrase  of  his  church, 
the  23d,  dearly  prized  by  the  persecuted  covenanters  ; 
and  with  deep  intonation  he  dwelt  upon  the  lines, 

Yca.tliougli  I  walk  in  dcalli's  dark  vale, 

Ytt  will  1  fear  none  ill ; 
For  Ihou  art  with  mf.and  tliy  rod 

And  staff  inc  coiiifurt  still. 

When  Letitia  retired  with  luT  mother  to  their  little 
sleeping  apartment,  she  stooped  to  look  through  the  win- 
dow, which  nearly  touched  the  ground,  "  How  b<  auliful, 
Maifima,  is  this  night !  The  moon  shines  sweetly,  and 
Lough  Foyle  dances  like  quicksilver  below.  Is  it  not 
strange  that  under  such  a  sky,  men  should  prepare  to  dye 
those  peaceful  waters  with  blood '!  With  the  words  that 
we  have  heard  to-night,  warm  on  my  memory,  methinks  I 
could  go  forth  to  yonder  camp,  and  proclaim  to  the  foes 
who  seek  our  lives,  'Peace  on  earth;  and  good-will  to- 
wards men.'  " 

"My  child,  it  is  the  love  of  God,  shed  abroad  in  cur 
hearts  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  that  disarms  all  bitter  and  re- 


DERRY.  93 

eentful  feelings.  Come,  Letitia ;  let  us  pray  for  them  5 
for  they  know  not  what  they  do." 

They  kneeled  in  prayer ;  and  peacefully  composed 
themselves  to  rest,  conversing  for  a  while  on  the  glorious 
privilege  of  God's  children,  so  exquisitely  set  forth  in  the 
Psalm,  which  Letitia  again  recited. 

The  grey  tint  had  not  visited  the  darkened  east,  when 
a  bomb  broke  through  the  garret  roof,  and  falling  on  the 
bed,  rolled  thence  to  the  window,  which  it  forced  from  its 
frame,  and  exploded  loudly  in  the  street. 

But  those  two  quiet  sleepers  awoke  not :  without  a 
pang,  they  had  passed  into  eternity. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


In  the  crowded  state  of  the  city,  it  was  needful  to  com- 
mit with  all  speed  to  their  last  earthly  resting-place  the 
bodies  of  the  slain:  and  scarcely  had  the  agonized  survi- 
vors of  M'Alistor's  race  a  competent  time  allotted  to  en- 
shroud the  forms  so  tenderly  beloved,  ere  they  were  pent 
up  in  the  narrow  receptrcle  that  sufficed  for  both — one 
coffin  was  prepared  — one  grave  was  dug — and  ere  yet  the 
shell  received  its  lid,  a  croud  of  weeping  friends  hemmed 
in  the  individuals,  who,  stationed  close  around  the  shatter- 
ed bed,  gazed  upon  those  lineaments,  as  uninjured  and  as 
calmly  soft  as  when  slumber  first  stole  over  them.  The 
Lady's  heart  was  rent  beyond  th;3  power  of  her  strong 
mind,  and  stronger  faith,  to  sustain  without  a  struggle  that 
convulsed  her  frame ;  while  the  tearless  stupefaction  of 
poor  Ellen,  as  she  hung  upon  her  brother's  shoulder,  ap- 
peared more  pitiable  still.  But  Bryan's  trial  was  perhaps 
the  hardest,  for  nature  strove  in  his  bosom  against  tlie  sub- 
duing grace  of  God,  and  raised  a  cry  of  wrath  and  ven- 
geance. Shane's  grief  was  frantic  ;  and  his  passionate 
lamentations  woke  a  responsive  chord  in  many  a  breast : 
for  there  were  childless  mothers  by,  and  widowed  brides, 
and  orphaned  children.  The  fugitives  who  had  sought 
shelter  in  Derry,  had  each  some  tale  to  tell  that  would 
have  claimed  an  eminence   in  grief  j  and  the  stream  of 


DERBY.  96 

selfish  sorrow  now  flowed  afresh,  in  the  contemplation  of 
another's  woes. 

Up  to  this  period,  Malcolm  had  not  been  apprized  of  the 
event  ;  but  he  now  appeared,  led  by  vague  rumor,  and 
hastily  passing  the  deserted  apartments,  ascended  to  the 
spot.  His  presence  occasioned  a  movement  throughout  the 
party,  whose  sobs  and  moans  redoubled  as  they  opened  a 
passage  for  him  to  the  cofCn. 

"  See  there,"  said  Bryan,  moving  his  clenched  hand 
towards  it. 

"And  see  there  !'  responded  Malcolm,  as  he  pointed  to 
the  broken  roof,  through  which  was  visible  a  portion  of  the 
deep  blue  sky,  and  a  little  fleecy  cloud  that  glided  like  a 
distant  wing  athwart  it. 

But  while  oth?r  eyes  were  raised  to  mark,  his  own  fell 
again  on  the  lifeless  forms,  and  he  burst  into  tears. 

The  firing  at  this  time  became  more  rapid  ;  and  whiz- 
zing balls  passed  through  the  streets,  and  another  bomb  ex- 
ploded at  a  short  distance.  When  the  noise  subsided, 
Malcolm  spoke,  "  All  is  well  ;  aye,  better  than  well  with 
them :  for  what  hosannas,  what  music  of  heavenly  harp- 
ings,  now  surround  those  rejoicing  spirits  before  the  throne 
of  the  Lamb  !  Oh  blessed  confession,"  he  added,  as  he 
bent  over  the  shell ;  "  said  she  not  last  night,  that  the 
Lord  himself  had  taught  her,  whose  teaching  is  the  pledge 
of  never-ending  life  1" 

Then,  in  a  strain  of  triumphant  praise,  he  rendered 
thanks  for  the  victory  achieved  over  death  and  the  grave. 
The  exercise  was  blessed ;  for  Ellen  wept,  and  Bryan 
found  deliverance  from  the  revengeful  cravings  of  a  lace- 
rated spirit,  while  enabled  to  contrast  the  triumphs  of 
heavenly  joy,  with  the  poor  mangled  remains  of  the  earth- 
ly tabernacles,  which  once  imprisoned  the  now  liberated 
Bouls.     On  rising,  he  inquired  for  Magrath. 

Summoned  from  a  corner,  the  poor  fellow  approached ; 


%  DERRY. 

and  covering  his  face  with  both  hands,  exclaimed  in  brok- 
en accents,  "  Oh,  don't.  Sir,  don't  put  blame  upon  me — 
they  are  not  my  beads." 

"  Blame  you,  Magrath  \  never.  I  blame  only  the  sin 
which  has  brouglit  death  into  the  world.  I  called  you  to 
take  a  farewell  look  at  those  whom  you  loved,  and  sei-ved, 
would  have  died  to  defend.  See,  how  peaceful — oh,  Ma- 
grath, they  are  hap| :y  :  for  they  died  trusting  in  Christ, 
and  in  Him  alone.     He  is  all — all  sufficient." 

Magrath  gazed  for  a  moment,  then  casting  up  his  eyes> 
he  wrung  his  hands  ;  and  with  a  passionate  exclamation  in 
Irish,  rushed  from  the  room. 

Through  the  broken  window  the  coffin  was  lowered, 
and,  amid  the  tears  of  many,  borne  to  its  grave. 

Ross  had  quitted  Derry  three  or  four  days  previously,  on 
a  mission  to  Enniskillen  ;  and  returning  into  the  town,  he 
met  his  friend,  slowly  retracing  the  homeward  path. 

"  M'Alister,  my  dear  fellow,  are  you  going  to  give  me 
the  cut  at  last  V  said  he  gail}' ;  but  the  eye  that  was  rais- 
ed to  his  own  made  him  start  away. 

To  speak  Br3an  found  it  impossible  ;  he  took  his  arm, 
and  strongly  compressing  it,  led  him  back  to  the  grave. 
Magrath  had  taken  the  shovel,  and  was  carefully  filling  in 
the  last  earth. 

"Bryan,  for  mercy's  sake,  what  is  all  this  1" 

"  My  mother — and  Letitia  are  there." 

Aghast,  and  panting,  Ross  seated  himself  on  an  adjoin- 
ing grave,  while  a  stander-by  related  the  circumstances. 

"  Come  home  with  me,"  said  Bryan. 

Impossible  !  what !  to  see  their  places  empty — to  look 
upon  that  venerable  ruin,  struck  by  such  another  thunder- 
bolt— to  see  poor  Ellen — poor  Ellen ;"'  and  his  tears 
flowed. 

"  Yes,  my  friend,  to  see  all  this,  and  to  witness  likewise 
the  power  of  Him  to  whom  you  must  come,  that  you  too 
may  have  life." 


DERRY.  97 

It  was  indeed  a  struggle  of  no  ordinary  intenseness,  by 
which  the  Lady  of  M'Alister  had  retained  her  self-posses- 
sion through  the  day  ;  but  in  Basil  she  found  an  invaluable 
comforter.  Long  tried  in  such  a  school,  he  was  well  fit- 
ted for  the  office  ;  and  gentle  representations  on  behalf  of 
poor  Bryan,  had  prevailed  to  induce  a  composure  that 
could  not  but  be  soothing  to  his  feelings,  when  at  eve- 
ning's close  he  returned  to  the  diminished  circle.  The 
appearance  of  Ross,  and  his  undisguised  emotion,  had  near- 
ly overcome  them  again ;  nor  had  any  one  courage  to  in- 
vade the  death-like  silence  ;  till,  on  the  entrance  of  Ma- 
grath,  the  Lady,  with  marked  kindness  in  her  tone,  invited 
him  to  approach  the  fire. 

Shane  eyed  him  askance  for  a  moment,  and  than  began 
most  piteously  to  moan,  rocking  himself  to  and  fro  on  his 
chair. 

After  the  evening  meal,  scarcely  marked  by  a  whisper, 
Magrath  took  upon  himself  to  lead  the  conversation,  and  in 
so  doing,  displayed  a  wisdom  and  delicacy  for  which  they 
were  hardly  prepared. 

Slowly  disengaging  from  his  neck  a  narrow  tape,  he 
took  from  it  what  appeared  a  scapular,  such  as  the  lower 
orders  of  Roman  Catholics  usually  wear ;  it  seemed  bulky, 
and  with  a  pen-knife  he  carefully  ripped  it  open.  A  half 
sheet  of  paper,  closely  folded  up,  was  then  discovered  ; 
the  marks  of  age  visible  upon  it ;  and  the  appearance  of 
having  been  much  in  use.  This  he  held  towards  Basil,  at 
the  same  time  advancing  the  candle  ;  and  asked  him,  "Do 
you  know  it,  Sir  1" 

An  exclamation  of  wonder,  and  of  delight  too,  bespoke 
an  immediate  recognition  ;  as  Basil  commenced  the  pe- 
rusal— "  it  is  my  own,"  he  said. 

"  True  for  you,  Sir  ;  but  it  has  had  other  masters  " 

*'  To  me  it  is  scarcely  legible  now,"  observed  Basil  ; 
9* 


98  DERRY. 

"  but  well  I  know  the  contents,  a  part  of  the  Irish  Scrip- 
tures." 

Magrath  took  it ;  and  deliberately  commenced  reading 
it,  to  the  no  small  surprise  of  his  auditors. 

"It  is  the  fifteenth  chapter  of  the  first  of  Corinthians,' 
said  Basil,  "  but  not  complete,  only  a  selection." 

"  Will  I  tell  you  how  I  got  that  same  1"  asked  Magrath, 
addressing  Shane. 

"  No,  no !  don't  bother :  will  it  bring  back  them  that 
arc  gone  1" 

"  May  be  it  will  comfort  them  that  remain,  uncle." 

"  Comfort  is  it !"  uttered  Shane  disdainfully  ;  but  the 
Lady  interposed,  saying,  "Proceed,  Magrath.  All  com- 
fort is  contained  in  the  words  which  you  now  hold  in  your 
hand,  and  nothing  connected  with  them  can  be  uninter- 
esting.". 

Magrath  re-seated  himself,  and  commenced  a  story  which, 
divested  of  extraneous  matter,  may  thus  be  stated : — His 
grandfather,  Dennis  O'Connogher,  when  a  very  young 
man,  had  made  one  of  the  party  most  active  in  persecut- 
ing the  family  of  Bishop  Bedell.  In  reward  for  his  zeal, 
he  was  entrusted,  with  others,  to  keep  guard  over  the 
prisoners  in  Lochwater  tower  :  and  in  the  pocket  of  a  gar- 
ment plundered  from  Basil,  he  had  found  that  paper, 
which,  being  unable  to  read,  he  kept  for  some  other  to 
decypher.  Much  attached  to  his  native  language,  when- 
ever he  heard  the  prisoners  converse  in  it,  as  he  supposed, 
he  placed  himself  at  a  cranny  to  listen  ;  and  so,  uncon- 
sciously, heard  many  portions  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  re- 
cited. Convinced  that  men  who  thus  continuall}^  spoke 
such  good  words  could  harbor  no  very  evil  designs,  he 
became,  though  secretly  and  cautiously,  yet  effectually, 
their  friend :  and  to  his  favorable  representations  they 
owed  much  of  the  indulgence  afterwards  granted.  Re- 
turning to  the  head-quarters  of  his  army,  Dennis  found  a 


DERRY.  99 

person  who  read  over  to  him  the  contents  of  the  paper ; 
which  he  recognized  as  having  formed  part  of  the  supposed 
conversations  between  the  Bishop  and  his  amanuensis. 
This  increased  his  curiosity ;  he  revisited  the  palace  at 
Kilmore  ;  and  among  some  himber,  thrown  by  as  useless 
by  the  rebels,  he  discovered,  and  appropriated  a  pretty 
large  parcel  of  MSS.,  in  a  rough  state,  which  resembled 
the  fragment  in  his  possession.  This  he  lodged,  with  other 
plunder,  in  safe  keeping;  and  forming  one  of  the  rebel 
party,  who  paid  such  unwonted  honors  to  the  remains  of 
the  good  Bishop — attending  his  funeral  for  the  purpose  of 
firing  a  salute  over  his  grave — Dennis  was  more  deeply 
impressed  than  ever  with  a  consciousness  that,  in  serving 
him  he  had  befriended  a  true  follower  of  Christ — one 
whose  exa;mple  he  revered,  and  whose  doctrine  he  longed 
more  fully  to  examine. 

A  series  of  battles  and  outrages  soon  obliterated  from 
his  mind  the  transient  interest  thus  awakened  :  and  after 
many  years,  Dennis,  crippled  by  a  wound,  accepted  the 
shelter  offered  by  his  daughter,  then  recently  married  j 
and  had  scarcely  learned  to  relish  the  sweets  of  a  quiet 
home,  and  the  dutiful  affection  of  his  child,  when  he  be- 
held her  suddenly  snatched  away,  and  a  motherless  babe 
left  dependent  on  the  attentions  of  others.  The  widower 
soon  married  again  ;  but  continued  his  hospitable  kindness 
to  Judy's  father  :  while  young  Larry  formed  the  sole 
earthly  comfort  and  delight  of  the  bereaved  old  man. 

Magrath  was  much  moved,  when  touching  on  the  sub- 
ject:  and  Shane's  attention  had  become  so  eager,  as  to 
banish  lor  a  while  the  pressure  of  his  immoderate  grief. 

"I  was  a  wild  gossoon,"  continued  Magrath,  "  but  I  did 
my  duty  by  the  grandfather,  why  shouldn't  I,  he  so  crip- 
pled and  sorrowful,  and  I  the  vein  of  his  old  heart.  My 
father,  no  blame  to  him,  was  a  strong  catholic,  and  never 
heard  the  name  of  the  bishop  without  putting  a  curse  on 


1 00  DERRY. 

him ;  and  as  my  father  was  well  ofT  in  the  world,  and  a  big 
man  with  the  priest,  old  Dennis  didn't  care  to  be  thwart- 
ing him,  may  be:  so  ki'[)t  all  snug,  and  sorrow  the  word 
he  would  be  spaking,  of  what  lay  deep  enough  in  his 
mind.  But  he  was  a  thought  arch  too  ;  and  so,  says  he  to 
my  father,  '  Larry  Magrath,'  says  he,  "  isn't  it  a  thousand 
murders  that  Larry  the  boy  should  have  no  more  laming 
nor  a  sea-gull,  and  ho  so  'cute,  the  cratur.' — '  What  is  it 
you'd  be  after,  the  day  V  says  my  father.  '  O,  then  it's 
myself  that  would  put  the  boy  to  his  laming,  and  Irish  is 
the  thing  for  Larry,'  says  my  grandfather,  'you  see,  ho- 
ney, how  Ireland  will  soon  be  at  the  top  of  her  ancient 
glory,  please  St.  Patrick  ;  and  is  it  young  Larry  that 
shouldn't  rise  to  be  lord  Judge,  or  huntsman,  or  may  be 
an  ancient  bard,  or  such  like,  when  the  land  and  the  lan- 
guage come  round  to  be  our  own  again  V  So  he  bothered 
my  father,  good  look  to  the  blarney !  but  I'm  thinking, 
that  little  was  in  him,  barrin'  only  the  wish  to  get  to  the 
bottom  of  the  old  papers.  For,  when  he  found  me  dis- 
creel, nnd  no  blab,  he  would  tell  of  by-gone  days;  and  out 
and  out  partial  was  he  to  all  that  savored  of  the  bishop, 
and  his  follower,  that  ran  upon  the  pikes'  points  for  the 
cold  comfort  of  a  lodging  in  Lochvvater  ;  and  that's  your- 
self, Sir,  I'm  thinking,"  addressing  Basil,  who  deeply 
moved,  could  scarcely  reply,  "  It  was. ' 

In  short,  by  working  on  his  son-in-law's  ambition,  Den- 
nis prevailed  to  send  the  lad  where  he  acquired  a  good 
proficiency  in  reading  and  writing  his  native  language. 
Proud  of  his  education,  young  Magrath  returned,  to  find 
his  grandfather  in  wretched  health,  and  woi'se  spirits,  con- 
fined to  his  bed,  with  no  better  prospect  than  so  to  linger 
out  his  remaining  years.  Convinced  of  his  affection  and 
fidelity,  the  old  man,  after  many  injunctions  to  secrecy, 
drew  forth  the  scrap  of  paper  ;  "  and  joyful  was  he  when 
I  read  it  off,  as  asy  as  I  d  skim  a  bowl  of  milk  :  though  for 


DERRY.  101 

the  matter  of  understanding  it,  all  the  pains  that  my  grand- 
father took  couldn't  beat  much  of  that  into  me." 

"  Ah,  1 11  engage  its  little  that  himself  understood  it," 
eighed  Shane  ;  "  let  alone  that  it  wasn't  for  the  likes  of 
you  to  read  it  right." 

"  Wasn't  it  then  V  exclaimed  Magrath,  rather  hotly. 
*'  I'll  be  bound  to  you  then  that  I'll  not  miscall  a  word  of 
it ;"  and  with  extreme  animation,  feeling,  and  emphasis,  he 
read  the  whole  passage,  from  the  42d  verse,  beginning, 
"  As  mar  an  gc'dna  bhias  cis'irghe  na  marbh  " — "  So  also 
is  the  resurrection  from  the  dead,"  to  the  end  of  the 
chapter. 

Various  were  the  sensations  excited  by  this  unlooked- 
for  display,  while  Magrath,  his  voice  deepening,  and  hia 
color  heightening  as  he  proceeded,  seemed  to  enter  into 
the  full  sublimity  of  that  exquisite  passage. 

The  circumstances  under  which  he  had,  on  that  very 
day,  heard  the  same  portion  read  in  English,  and  which, 
no  doubt,  led  to  its  production  now,  filled  his  heart  with 
tenderness,  and  gave  an  occasional  pathos  to  his  tones,  that 
rendered  them  deeply  affecting,  even  to  Ross,  who  was 
totally  unacquainted  with  the  language. 

Bryan  and  Ellen  could  comprehend  it,  and  to  them  the 
voice  sounded  as  from  another  world.  The  Lady's  hands 
were  clasped,  her  eyes  were  closed,  and  every  emotion 
seemed  lost  in  prayer.  Old  Shane  presented  the  most 
striking  object  of  all :  for  accustomed  as  he  was  to  hear 
the  scriptures  daily  read,  it  would  have  seemed  as  though 
something  most  strangely  new  had  reached  his  ear  and 
heart.  He  sat  in  breathless  attention,  catching  as  it  were 
at  every  word,  and  straining  his  faculties  to  grasp  the  mighty 
subject  presented  to  their  view. 

Basil — who  shall  portray  the  feelings  of  Basil  1  His 
countenance  was  shaded,  but  tears  of  joy  and  praise  trickled 
fast  down  his  furrowed  cheeks,  as  the  wonderful  chain  of 


102  DERRY. 

ev(>nts  passed  rapidly  before  liis  menial  view.  The  master 
chord  was  touched,  in  the  heart  of  tliat  poor  Irishman  :  he 
could  not  mistake  its  tone,  and  his  was  the  blessed  privi- 
lege to  have  wrought  in  the  work.  Nor  did  his  hap))iness 
end  here  :  such  a  persevering  thirst  after  the  word  of  life, 
bespoke  a  divine  agency,  exerted  also  in  the  case  of  old 
Dennis  :  and  while,  as  Magrath  slowly  recited  the  con- 
cluding verse,  he  received  it  as  a  message  from  on  high, 
addn>s>ed  to  himself,  his  emotion  was  increased  yet  more, 
on  hearing  from  poor  Shane  such  an  amen  as  never  had 
before  issued  from  his  lips,  immediately  after  a  heavy 
cannonading  shook  the  town  ;  and  the  falling  of  some 
loosened  tiles  into  the  shattered  room  above,  recalled  most 
bitterly  the  reality  of  their  domestic  loss. 

"  Go  on,  Magrath,  go  on  with  yuur  story,  my  dear  fel- 
low," said  Bryan,  hastdy. 

But  Magrath  seemed  to  have  come  to  a  stop  in  his  nar- 
rative. There  evidently  was  something  that  he  did  not 
like  to  relate  ;  and  the  Lady  interposed,  saying,  "  Magrath 
is  fatigued,  my  dear  child  :  another  time  he  may  resume. 
Bring  the  bible  hither,  and  let  us  seek  to  the  Lord.  He 
has  smitten,  and  he  will  heal." 

Bryan  obeyed :  he  took  the  fourteenth  chapter  of  St. 
John,  and  commented  on  it  as  one  who  felt  its  rich  conso- 
lations. Neither  did  he  abstain  from  exposing  most  unre- 
servedly, the  vanity  of  every  hope  that  \vas  not  placed  on 
Jesus  Christ  alone.  He  addressed  Magrath,  and  pointing 
out  the  grounds  of  their  perfect  assurance,  in  regard  to  the 
present  bliss  of  those  so  recently  departed,  he  told  him 
that  of  such  bliss  he  could  not  be  partaker,  if  cut  ofTin  like 
manner,  while  resting  on  an  unsound,  unholy  faith.  In 
solemn  terms  he  spoke  to  Shane,  as  one  yet  unrenewed  in 
the  spirit  of  his  mind  ;  and  directed  to  Ross  a  series  of  ani- 
mated interrogatories,  well  calculated  to  probe  his  con- 
science, and  to  display  his  peril.     "  And  now  to  prayer," 


DERKY.  103 

he  concluded.  "  Diminished  as  our  party  is,  oh,  let  not 
one  withdraw  from  it!"  Magrath  understood  the  allusion 
to  himself,  and  kneeled  beside  his  uncle. 

"It  seems  strange,"  said  Ross,  when  they  arose,  "  that 
I,  who  have  been  as  one  of  your  own  family  these  many 
months,  and  so  heaped  with  kindnesses,  should  be  the  per- 
son who  has  not  a  single  word  of  consolation  to  offer — but 
I  cannot — it  cuts  too  deep" — and  he  sat  down  quite  over- 
powered. 

"  My  beloved  young  friend,"  said  the  Lady,  laying  her 
hand  on  his  shoulder,  "  we  lack  not  the  consolation  which 
man  can  give.  '  Our  souls  had  tainted  within  us,  unless 
we  had  believed  to  see  the  goodness  of  the  Lord  in  the 
land  of  the  living.'  This,  alas  !  is  the  land  of  the  dying, 
the  land  of  the  dead.  Earth  bears  us  on  its  surface  for  a 
little  while,  prepared  to  claim  again  the  kindred  dust. 
These  bodies  that  shall  yet  be  scattered  on  the  winds,  and 
whirled  across  the  path  of  succeeding  geneiations,  do  these 
deserve  our  care  \  Yonder  empty  seats  can  preach  aa 
eloquently  as  angel  tongues,  to  tell  us  we  are  nothing- 
Hark  to  that  shot !  you  know  not  its  commission,  the  next 
may  summon  you  ;  and  whither  ]  To  the  land  of  the 
living,  or  to  that  of  the  doubly  dead  I  To  the  God  of  pu- 
rity, whom  none  without  holiness  shall  see,  or  to  the  father 
of  lies,  who  whispers  that  what  the  Lord  has  said  he  will 
not  perform  !  Awake,  awake,  young  man  ;  escape  for 
your  life  ;  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come  !" 

Bryan  could  not  prevail  on  himself  to  quit  the  house  on 
that  sad  night :  but  left  with  Basil  alone,  while  Magrath 
had  persuaded  Shane  to  let  him  assist  his  tottering  limbs 
to  reach  the  little  dormitory,  they  commenced  a  discourse 
on  the  subject  of  that  joyous  recognition  which  awaits  the 
members  of  Christ  in  the  presence  of  their  Head.  Magrath 
returned,  and  requested  leave  to  join  them. 

"  Now,  your  honor,"  said  he,  when  a  pause  ensued, 


104  DERRY. 

"  I'm  thinking  that  you  would  be  glad  to  hear  the  end  of 
the  ould  story.  Somehow,  1  didn't  like  to  go  on,  and  my 
uncle  by,  and  young  Mr.  Koss  j  but  I'm  quite  agreeable  to 
letting  you  know  the  rest." 

His  oJer  being  very  thankfully  accepted,  he  proceeded 
to  relate,  that  his  grandfathrr  revealed  to  him  the  hiding 
place  of  the  manuscripts,  and  he  commenced  their  peru- 
sal ;  overcoming,  as  well  as  he  could,  the  obstacles  pre- 
sented by  many  corrections  and  interlineations.  He 
passed  wliole  hours  in  this  occupation,  until  his  father, 
suspecting  that  all  was  not  right,  apprized  the  priest  of  his 
doubts  ;  and  young  Larry  was  unexpectedly  assailed  at  the 
confessional  by  questions  which,  on  peril  to  his  sovil,  he 
was  obliged  to  answer.  A  visit  from  the  priest  to  Dennis 
was  the  consequence  ;  but  Magrath,  not  being  present, 
could  not  tell  what  passed,  excepting  only  that  he  heard  a 
great  deal  of  violent  altercation  ;  and  he  himself,  for  hav- 
ing so  long  listened  to  the  commendation  of  heretics,  and 
above  all,  for  daring  to  read  a  wicked  book,  was  sent  on  a 
long  and  severe  pilgrimage. 

"  Before  I  set  out,  I  was  resolute  to  see  my  poor  grand- 
father ;  but  that  wouldn't  be  allowed  me.  However,  I 
contented  myself  with  getting  in  at  his  window  by  night, 
the  door  being  locked  outside,  and  sure  enough  the  old 
man  was  changed  grievously.  '  Larry,  dear,'  says  he, 
'  it's  the  last  of  me  you're  seeing  now  ;  for  my  ould  heart 
is  broke  into  five  halves  by  the  blasphemy  of 'em' — I  sup- 
pose he  meant  the  books — 'and  now,  honey  boy,'  says  he, 
'they'll  be  after  burying  me  afore  you  return,  for  the  life 
is  flickering  out  of  me  like  a  wasted  candle,  but'— and 
then  he  repeated  something  out  of  the  papers,  about  the 
blessed  Savior.  '  Ay,'  says  he,  smiling  like  a  babe,  *  out 
of  my  hands  they  may  get  it,  but  sorrow  the  thief  that  can 
steal  it  out  of  my  mind.'  1  remember  his  words,  though 
I  couldn't  pin  much  meaning  upon  them,  and  it's  like  he 


DERRY.  105 

was  delirious.  However,  he  gave  me  what  was  hanging 
about  his  neck,  and  said,  '  that's  a  true  gospel  for  ye,  Larry 
dear :  now,  don't  ye  part  with  it,  but  wear  it  unknownst 
for  my  poor  sake.  And,  child,  if  ever  ye're  puzzling  to 
know  how  I  died,  it's  according  to  thati!  I  cried  over  the 
ould  man,  and  left  him ;  and  sure  enough,  when  I  came 
home  from  my  penance,  it  was  burying  him  they  were." 

The  young  man  was  then,  it  appeared,  absolved  from 
his  past  sins,  and  told  to  be  thankful  for  his  escape  from 
perdition.  Dennis,  they  asserted,  had  made  a  full  confes- 
sion of  all  his  crime  against  the  church ;  and  that  the 
heretic  bishop  and  his  fellow  prisoners  had  met  several 
times  a  day  to  curse  the  catholic  church,  and  put  spells 
upon  the  kingdom.  That,  by  listening  to  the  prayers  of 
heretics,  he  had  fallen  under  the  power  of  the  evil  spirit, 
and  was  trying  to  lead  poor  Larry  in  the  same  way. 
However,  having  been  convinced  of  his  wickedness,  on 
giving  up  the  fatal  papers  to  be  burnt,  he  had  received 
absolution  and  died  in  the  faith.  "  Not  but  that  it  needed 
a  power  of  masses  to  help  his  sowl  in  purgatory,"  added 
Magrath,  "  and  the  priest  warned  my  father  that  he  was 
bound  to  do  it  for  a  penitent  sinner.  Indeed,  I've  heard 
my  father  say  that  Dennis  in  his  grave  cost  him  more  mo- 
ney than  his  six  living  child  er,  that  were  munching  and 
supping  from  morning  till  night." 

Magrath,  however,  was  not  well  at  ease  concerning  his 
grandfather ;  for  it  was  whispered  by  some  that  he  had 
died  excommunicate,  though  the  priest  soon  put  such 
penances  on  those  who  hinted  it,  as  stopped  their  tongues. 
One  day,  recollecting  that  the  old  man  had  said  the  scapu- 
lar, or  gospel  as  the  people  generally  called  it,  would  show 
how  he  died,  the  youth  ventured  to  rip  it  open,  and  was 
not  a  little  amazed  and  alarmed  to  find  that  it  contained 
the  old  pnper.  At  first  he  thought  to  take  it  to  the  priest : 
but  having  never  confessed  his  nocturnal  visit,  he  dreaded 
10 


106  DERRY. 

farther  discoveries,  and  another  pilgrimage.  He  therefore 
read  it  over  and  over  to  detect  any  evil  that  might  lurk  in 
it ;  and  finding  nothing  that  could  possibly  do  harm,  melt- 
ed too  by  the  recollection  of  the  afllicted  donor,  and  not  a 
little  afraid  of  being  haunted  if  he  disobeyed  his  last  in- 
junction, he  again  sewed  up  what,  after  all,  might  be  a  true 
"  gospel,"  as  Dennis  had  solemnly  assured  him  that  it  was, 
and  had  worn  it  as  such  to  that  day. 

"  And  this,"  said  Basil,  "  was  what  led  you  to  question 
me  as  to  our  having  cursed  your  church  and  people  V 

"  It  was,  Sir." 

"  And  are  you  satisfied  on  that  point,  now  V 

"  Why,  I  can't  say  but  I'm  pretty  clear  about  it. 
'Tisn't  yourself,  Mr.  Basil,  that  would  curse  a  dog,  let 
alone  a  Christian,  and  I'm  bound  to  believe  that  of  ye." 

"  But,  JMagrath,  what  becomes  of  the  story  told  of  your 
poor  grandfather's  dying  confession  :  did  he  die  with  a  lie 
in  his  mouth  1" 

"  He  did  not,  Sir :  I'll  take  my  oath  to  it  he  wouldn't," 
answered  Magrath,  warmly. 

"  Did  the  priest  invent  a  falsehood,  to  slander  the  dead, 
and  to  turn  the  living  from  the  paths  of  peace  1"  asked 
Basil,  with  increased  earnestness.  Magrath  put  his  hand 
to  his  forehead. 

"  Why  then,  your  honor,  I'll  tell  you  how  it  was.  Poor 
Dennis  hadn't  his  senses  right  about  him  at  all.  Vexation 
had  bothered  him,  and  he  talked  at  random,  which  same 
they  mistook  for  a  confession." 

"  Impossible  !  the  ravings  of  delirium  cannot  be  mista- 
ken for  reason  and  recollection." 

Magrath's  perplexity  increased  ;  and  he  gladly  evaded 
the  subject  by  turning  to  Bryan,  who,  deeply  brooding 
over  the  agonizing  dispensation  which  had  bereft  him  of 
objects  so  dear,  sate  unconscious  of  their  short  dialogue, 
his  eyes  shaded  with  his  hand,  and  tears  flowing  down  his 


DERRY.  107 

cheeks,  in  the  bitterness  of  unrestrained  sorrow.  Magrath 
for  a  moment  gazed  on  him,  and  then  repeated  in  Irish, 
"  0  death,  where  is  thy  sting  1" 

Bryan  looked  at  him,  and  he  continued,  "  O  grave, 
where  is  thy  victory  1  the  sting  of  death  is  sin,  and  the 
strength  of  sin  is  the  law :"  then  added  in  English, 
"Many's  the  time  that  I've  gone  over  those  words,  for, 
somehow,  they  took  hold  of  my  fancy ;  let  alone  that  my 
grandfather  would  be  saying  it  like  a  paternoster.  But, 
Mr.  Bryan,  dear,  it's  myself  that  can't  comprehend  it." 

Roused  by  this  judicious  appeal,  M'Alister  replied 
"  Read  the  next  verse." 

Magrath  unfolded  his  manuscript,  and  read,  "But 
thanks  be  to  God,  which  giveth  us  the  victory  through  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

"  And  do  you  not  understand  that,  Magrath." 

"  Not  rightly.  Sir,  I'm  thinking." 

Supplied  with  so  appropriate  a  text,  Bryan  proceeded, 
with  kindling  animation,  to  set  before  him  the  full  and 
sublime  consolation  couched  under  those  inspired  words. 
"  By  the  entrance  of  sin  into  the  world,  sentence  of  death, 
passed  upon  all  men,  for  all  are  born  in  sin,  and  live  in  con- 
tinual transgression.  To  him  who  dies  unforg-iven,  death 
comes  in  unspeakable  terrors,  summoning  his  soul  to  hell. 
The  sting,  or  dart,  which  destroys  him,  is  sin  ;  and  that 
which  gives  strength  or  power  to  sin,  is  the  holy  law  of 
God,  showing  it  in  all  its  blackness,  the  offspring  of  Satan, 
worthy  to  dwell  with  him  in  the  lake  of  fire  for  ever.  The 
grave  swallows  up  its  victims,  and  every  mound  of  earth 
is  but  a  monument  of  the  power  of  sin.  God's  law  de- 
clares '  the  soul  that  sinneth,  it  shall  die  ;'  '  the  wages  of 
sin  is  death  j'  '  the  wicked  shall  be  turned  into  hell  5'  and 
armed  with  this  commission,  death  goes  forth  to  slay — to 
furnish  food  for  the  grave,  and  fuel  for  the  flames  that  can- 
not be  quenched.     Do  you  understand  this,  Magrath  V 


108  DERRY. 

"  I  do,  sir  ;  and  ead  enough  it  is.  But  then  the  inno- 
cent and  the  good " 

"  The  innocent  and  the  good  are  those  who  never  in 
thought,  word,  or  deed,  departed  from  the  strict  and  holy 
law  of  God  ;  who  never  were  conscious  of  a  motive  that 
had  not  his  honor  and  glory  for  its  sole  object  ;  who  were 
neither  guilty  of  actual  sin,  nor  partakers  of  that  sinful  na- 
ture which  belongs  to  the  race  of  guilty  Adam.  Where 
shall  we  find  such  characters,  jMagrath  V 

"  Indeed,  Sir,  if  you  are  so  strict  as  that,  it  isn't  in  this 
world  we  must  look  for  them." 

"  Then,  if  we  stop  here,  judging  according  to  the  law 
of  God,  what  remains  but  death,  in  all  its  terrors,  a  victo- 
rious grave,  and  a  portion  in  eternal  fire  1" 

"  Nothing  else,  Sir." 

"  Now,  Magrath,  in  order  to  disarm  death  of  his  sting, 
what  must  be  done  V 

"  You  must  take  away  the  law.  Sir." 

"  Impossible  ;  for  God  has  said,  '  one  jot,  or  one  title 
shall  in  no  wise  pass  from  the  law,  till  all  be  fulfilled.'  " 

"  Then  we  must  fulfil  it." 

"  We  cannot  ;  we  are  born  under  a  broken  law,  and 
we  break  it  daily  ;  one  transgression  shuts  us  out  from 
hope  ;  for  the  scripture  says,  '  whosoever  shall  keep  the 
whole  law,  yet  offend  in  one  point,  he  is  guilty  of  all.'  " 

"  Indeed,  then,  I'm  quite  astray  how  we  are  to  get  out 
of  it,"  said  Magrath. 

"  Sin  has  obtained  the  victoiy  over  us,  and  by  means  of 
the  law  destroys  us.  But  what  if  one  came,  who  could, 
as  you  say,  fulfil  the  law,  having  been  born  without  the 
sin  of  Adam's  race,  and  lived  and  died  without  transgres- 
sion V 

"  He  would  get  the  victory  back  again,  sure." 

"  Exactly  so,  Magrath,  and  Jesus  Christ  has  gained  that 
victory  j  for  he  was  clothed  in  flesh,  pure  and  holy  as  was 


DERRY.  109 

Adam's  when  first  created  by  the  hand  of  Jehovah  ;  and 
he  perfectly  fulfilled  the  whole  law,  suffering  a  wretched 
life  and  cruel  death,  persecuted  by  Satan  and  evil  men. 
Yes,  he  won  the  victory  indeed  !  and  what  he  won  by 
bitter  sufferings  he  ogives  to  all  believers.  God,  who  arm- 
ed  the  law  with  its  dreadful  power  to  slay,  gives  us  the 
means  to  escape  its  sting,  gives  us  the  victory  through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  His  sufferings  satisfied  the  justice 
of  God  :  atoning:  for  our  transgressions.  His  death  is  our 
life  :  for  Jesus,  by  descending  into  the  grave,  wrested 
from  Satan  the  conquest  that  he  had  won.  And  knowing 
this,  may  we  not  exclaim,  0  death,  where  is  thy  sting  1 
0  grave,  where  is  thy  victory  ?" 

Magrath  replied  not  ;  and  Bryan  requested  Basil  to  re- 
peat in  Irish  the  substance  of  what  he  had  said.  This  was 
faithfully  done,  and  attentively  heard  ;  and  then  M'Alister 
proceeded  to  describe  who  they  were  who  could  confi- 
dently appropriate  the  apostle's  exultation,  dwelling  on 
the  holiness,  the  zeal,  devotion,  and  humility  which  mark 
a  true  disciple  of  Christ  :  drawing  a  marked  distinction 
between  the  careless  assent  of  a  worldly  mind,  and  the 
active  principle  of  true  faith,  uniting  believers  to  their 
Lord,  as  the  members  to  their  head,  the  branch  to  their 
root,  and  the  body  of  flesh  to  a  vivifying  soul.  "  And 
these,"  he  concluded,  "  are  the  ransomed,  the  pardoned, 
the  justified,  who,  having  no  hope  but  in  Christ  Jesus,  find 
in  him  all  that  they  need  ;  through  faith  in  him  they  can 
defy  a  stingless  death,  and  triumph  over  the  victory  of 
the  grave." 

"  I  believe  it,"  said  Magrath,  as  he  looked  upon  the 
pale  but  animated  countenance  of  his  instructor  ;  "  for  it 
isn't  a  fancy  that  could  uphold  ye  all  this  sorrowful  day. 
I've  listened  and  watched,  but  lambs  upon  earth  or  saints 
in  heaven  couldn't  take  it  more  meekly.  Not  a  word  of 
revenge  against  them  that  did  it  j  not  a  look  of  reproach 
10* 


110  DERRY. 

to  me  that  belong  to  'em — and  yet  a  heart-break  it  is,  and 

veins  of  the   heart  were  they" He  grasped  Bryan's 

hand,  and  ejaculatin^!:,  "  the  Lord  bless  ye  !"  hastily  re- 
treated into  his  apartment. 

"  How  characteristic  was  that  burst  of  feeling,"  ex- 
claimed Basil,  "  and  how  cheering !  Mercies  rich  and 
abundant  lie  veiled  beneath  these  cloudy  dispensations ; 
and  the  persecutions  of  God's  people  shall  tend,  as  of  old, 
to  the  enlargement  of  his  church." 

"  Amen  !"  sighed  Bryan.  "  The  blow  has  fallen  heavi- 
ly upon  my  heart  ,  and  while  faith  struggles  to  look  up 
and  smile,  memory  cleaves  to  earth,  imagination  digs  be- 
neath its  surface,  and  all  the  sinful  weakness  of  flesh  gath- 
ers strength  to  resist  the  Comforter ;  refusing,  hating  to  be 
comforted  j  I  want  reproof." 

"  Alas,  my  son,  your,  heart  reproves  you,  and  Satan 
whispers  hard  sayings,  adding  wormwood  to  gall.  That 
doubting,  half-reproachful  expostulation,  '  Lord,  if  thou 
hadst  been  here,  my  brother  had  not  died' — how  often  has 
it  breathed  from  my  agonized  soul  !  But  they  shall  rise 
again,  rise  to  welcome  his  approach,  rise  to  share  the  glo- 
ries of  his  reign.  Then  shall  death  be  swallowed  up  in 
victory,  when  this  corruptible  shall  have  put  on  incor- 
ruption,  and  this  mortal  shall  have  put  on  immortality. 
It  was  sweetly  considerate  of  poor  Magrath  to  lead  your 
laboring  thoughts  into  that  track  of  life,  and  light,  and 
glory." 

"  It  was  indeed.  A  ray  appeared  to  break  on  his  own 
mind,  revealing  where  true  comfort  lay.  Oh,  that  it  may 
lighten  more  and  more,  exposing  the  snares  that  beset  his 
crooked  path,  and  guiding  his  feet  into  the  way  of  peace  !" 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


The  morning  which  followed  that  day  of  bitter  trial, 
dawned  on  the  afflicted  family  through  clouds  and  storms. 
A  heavy  fall  of  rain,  finding  free  ingress  through  the  bro- 
ken roof,  obliged  the  inmates  to  devise  means  for  filling  up 
the  chasm — a  task  too  perilous  to  be  performed  in  the  usual 
way,  since  the  workmen  so  employed  would  become  a 
mark  for  the  enemy's  gunners.  Magrath  displayed  great 
skill  in  directing  the  operation  ;  and  hastening  down  stairs, 
employed  himself  in  altering,  as  much  as  possible,  the  ar- 
rangement of  the  furniture,  changing  the  usual  position  ol 
the  breakfast  table,and  narrowing  the  space  formerly  occupi- 
ed by  the  family.  Bryan,  as  he  paced  the  room  with  restless 
steps,  surveyed  from  time  to  time  the  progress  of  his  attach- 
ed follower  ;  and  secretly  acknowledged  the  mercy  which 
had  sent  among  them  one,  who  to  the  faithful  affection  of 
old  Shane  added  that  judgment  and  self-possession  in  which 
the  grey-haired  domestic  had  always  proved  himself  re- 
markably deficient.     But  he  spoke  not. 

Those  feelings  of  bitter  wrong  sustained,  which  had 
wrought  in  his  mind  on  the  preceding  day,  even  to  a  mo- 
mentary thirst  for  vengeance,  had  partially  revived,  while, 
standing  on  the  bedstead  he  assisted  to  repair  the  breach 
where  death  found  entrance,  and  fixed  a  temporary  shutter 
to  the  window-frame  through  which  the  beloved  remains 


112  DERRY. 

were  passed  to  the  street  below.  To  combat  these  sug- 
gestions was  no  easy  task  ;  for  ])atriotism  combint'd  its 
powerful  voice  with  wliat  L,t'enied  the  pleadings  of  fdial 
and  fraternal  love.  Hitherto  Bryan  had  refused  to  depart 
from  the  strict  line  of  defensive  operations,  nor  hid  he 
been  much  urged  to  do  so  ;  but  now  it  became  evident  that 
frequent  sallies  would  take  place,  and  not  to  volunteer  a  sol- 
dier's part  must  necessarily  expose  a  young  and  active  man 
to  unpleasant  remarks.  It  is  the  policy  of  the  tempter  to 
aggravate  present  grief  by  leading  the  imagination  to  dwell 
on  the  probability  of  future  perplexities  ;  and  poor  Bryan 
experienced  such  a  conllict  as  almost  overpowered  his 
frame,  fatigued  by  two  nights  of  watchful  sorrow,  during 
which  he  had  not  cast  olf  his  apparel. 

Magrath,  having  ended  his  arrangements,  brought  out  his 
uncle,  who  complained  of  his  chair  having  been  removed ; 
while  Magrath,  in  a  low  voice,  and  in  Irish,  ixj)lained  his 
motive,  and  exorted  the  old  man  to  lay  a  curb  on  his  feel- 
ings when  the  ladies  should  appear.  Touched  by  the  que- 
rulous tremor  of  Shane's  tone  as  he  promised  obedience, 
Bryan  drew  a  chair  close  to  him,  and  taking  both  his 
hands,  asked  how  he  had  rested. 

"  Rested  is  it  1  Yourself  may  tell  that,  Master  Bryan, 
while  the  eye  and  the  cheek  of  ye  shew  that  your  young 
heart's  well  nigh  broken.  Ahone!  but  the  deed  hasn't 
brought  up  to  your  sight  the  rivers  of  blood  that  trickled 
past  mine  ;  nor  unshrouded  the  dead  to  shew  you  their  gap- 
ing wounds,  and  make  the  cries  ring  in  your  ears  that 
were  hushed  long  afore  you  were  born." 

"  It's  nice  comfort  you're  giving  him,  isn't  it  V  asked 
Magrath  impatiently. 

Shane  hung  his  head,  and  Bryan  with  soothing  kindness, 
eaid,  "  It  is  I  that  should  comfort  him,  for  he  speaks  too  tru- 
ly of  the  agonizing  recollections  brought  to  mind  by  this 
event.     You  know  not,  Magrath,  what  your  uncle's  affec- 


DERRY.  113 

lion  for  your  race  has  led  Jaim  to  endure.     We  live  in  the 
veins  of  his  heart,  and  what  afflicts  us,  pierces  him." 

Gratified  by  this  testimony,  Shane  looked  up  at  his 
young  master,  saying,  "  True  for  ye,  dear,  but  then  we 
know  that  they  are  in  glory,  and  who  would  bring  'em 
back  V  Then,  with  greater  earnestness  he  went  on ; 
"  There  she  sat,  she  that's  an  angel  in  heaven  now,  after 
going  to  church  last  Sunday.  '  And  I'm  thinking,  Shane,' 
said  she,  '  that  my  poor  Ellen  won't  go  again  to  the  house 
of  God,  until  they'll  be  carrying  her  there  in  a  coffin.'  'Ah, 
now,  Miss  Lititia,'  then  said  I,  'and  what'U  be  putting  such 
dark  fancies  in  your  head  \  Many's  the  day  that  ye'll 
both  be  skipping  with  the  kids,  upon  your  own  hills  again.' 
Sure,  my  heart  didn't  go  along  with  my  words,  but  I  said 
it  to  cheer  her  soul,  any  how.  '  Is  it  dark  my  fancies  are, 
Shane  V  says  she,  with  a  smile  like  a  sunbeam.  '  Nay, 
but  I'll  read  you  an  account  of  the  place  that  I'm  thinking 
to  dwell  in.'  And  then  she  opened  the  ould  book  and 
read  something  near  the  end  of  it,  about  a  city  that  hath  no 
8un  nor  moon,  nor  candle,  but  is  always  bright  with  the  glory 
of  God.  I  asked  her,  how  did  she  know  that  she  was  going 
to  live  there  1  and  she  told  me  that  she  knew  it.  '  And 
Shane,'  said  she,  '  you  heard  the  shot  that  hit  the  mar- 
ket-house 1  many  of  those  shots  will  we  have  among 
us ;  and  if  one  of  them  hits  me,  I'll  tell  you,  Shane  dear, 
it  will  but  be  the  chariot  that  my  father  sends  to  take  me 
to  the  bright  city.'  Och,  but  I'll  never  forget  how  she 
turned  up  her  blue  eyes  and  smiled,  as  if  it  was  all  before 
her  sight.'' 

"  She's  there  now,"  uttered  Magrath,  in  a  deep  tone  of 
voice  ;  while  Bryan  in  silence  regaled  on  this  almost  dying 
testimony  of  the  gentle  spirit  whose  flight  he  longed  to  fol- 
low. 

The  entrance  of  the  Lady  and  Ellen  severely  put  to  the 
test  both  his  fortitude  and  Shane's.     They  had  slept,  and 


1 14  DERRY. 

the  waking  hour — who  that  has  known  such  a  waking 
hour  would  wish  it  described  \ — who  that  has  not,  could 
realize  the  description  1 

Deep  sobs  shook  the  frame  of  poor  Ellen,  as  she  vainly 
strove  to  answer  her  brother's  tender  inquiries  :  while  the 
Lady,  advancing  to  Shane,  took  his  hand,  and  extending 
her  other  to  Alagrath,  "  What  comfort,  my  aged  partner  in 
sorrow,  has  the  Lord  given  you  under  this  blow  !" 

"  Tell  her  Ladyship  what  you  told  the  master,"  whis- 
pered Magrath.  Shane  readily  obeyed,  and  the  Lady's 
countenance  assumed  an  expn-ssion  of  triumphant  delight, 
as  she  uttered  praises  to  the  author  and  linisher  of  her  chil- 
dren's faith, 

"  Oh  !  that  such  a  chariot  would  come  for  me  1"  mur- 
mured Ellen. 

"  Hush,  love  ;  were  you  not,  even  now,  resigning  all 
your  will  to  his !" 

"  Ah !  yes !    but " 

*'  Unsay  that  but,  my  beloved  young  lady,"  interrupted 
Basil,  who  had  entered.  "  He  hath  done  all  things  well ; 
but  it  is  never  well  with  our  souls  till  they  assent  to  that 
confession." 

Magrath  had  placed  the  Bible  before  Bryan  ;  and  whis- 
pered, "  Will  I  call  the  soldiers  in  ?"  as  their  steps  were 
heard  descending  the  stairs  from  their  breakfast. 

A  nod  of  delighted  acquiescence  dispatched  him  to  sum- 
mon them,  while  a  look  of  mutual  gratulation  was  exchang- 
ed between  Basil  and  the  Lady. 

Again  was  the  domestic  visitation  improved  to  the  bene- 
fit of  others  ;  and  Basil,  having  brought  down  his  Irish 
translation,  had  the  delight  of  seeing  Magrath  diligently 
studying  the  chapter  that  was  read. 

"  Heaven  bless  you  !"  said  the  elder  of  the  soldiers  as 
they  respectfully  retired  after  prayer.  "  God  sends  trouble 
to  all  5  and  happy  are  they  who  get  such  comfort  with  it." 


DERRT.  115 

"Blessed  indeed,"  remarked  Basil,  "are  those  afflic 
tions  which  trim  the  lamp  to  make  it  burn  more  brightly  i 
causing  the  light  to  shine  broadly  before  men,  which  else 
had  illuminated  but  a  contracted  sphere." 

"  Oh,  Sir,  said  Ellen,  "  I  will,  indeed  unsay  that  dis- 
contented but.  It  seemed  hard,  when  first  we  entered  this 
altered  room  ;  but  the  Lord  sends  others  to  hear  and  to 
pray  in  their  place  ;  yes,"  she  added,  raising  her  eyes 
with  solemn  fervency,  "  yes  ;  he  hath  done  all  things  well ; 
and  his  will,  his  will  alone  be  done !" 

"  Didn't  she  look  like  an  angel  then  1"  whispered 
Shane  to  Magrath  in  Irish. 

"  Aye,  and  she'll  be  one  before  long." 

Magrath  did  not  seem  aware  how  widely  he  was  de- 
parting from  his  church's  bounds,  in  thus  freely  conceding 
an  entrance  into  heaven  to  those  whom  she  stigmatizes  as 
the  progeny  of  hell.  Taught  from  his  earliest  years  to 
regard  as  the  natural  claimants  of  his  most  vindictive  ha- 
tred all  who  bore  the  Protestant  name,  the  temporary  im- 
pression in  their  iavor  which  his  gi-andfather's  narrations 
had  made,  wore  away  beneath  the  rough  collision  of  fiercer 
spirits;  and  gladly  did  he  accept  the  pre-eminence 
which  his  comparative  learning  acquired  for  him  among 
evil  men.  Hardy,  daring,  and  acute,  he  shrunk  from  no 
enterprise  that  was  placed  before  him,  conscious  that  his 
wit  and  cunning  would  be  found  available  where  the 
rougher  qualities  might  not  suffice.  He  had  been  chosen 
to  convey  intelligence  to  Lundy,  and  approached  the  walls 
of  Derry  with  feelings  as  hostile  as  ever  beat  in  the  bosom 
of  man ;  counting  it  a  high  privilege  to  accelerate  the  ex- 
termination of  what  he  considered  a  nest  of  poisonous  rep- 
tiles. How  far  the  hospitable  generosity  of  Bryan  might 
have  wrought  upon  his  prejudiced  feelings,  without  the 
aid  of  his  unexpected  recognition  of  Shane,  may  be  doubt- 
ful, but  the  word  is  sure  which  says,  "  When  a  man's  ways 


116  DERRT. 

please  the  Lord,  he  maketli  even  his  enemies  to  be  at 
peace  with  him,"  and  many  a  persecuted  member  of  the 
churcii  of  Christ  in  those  days  of  discord  and  massacre, 
experienced  its  fullilmont.  Certain  it  is,  tliat  consanguin- 
ity was  the  least  powerful  of  all  the  ties  which,  after  a 
little  space,  bound  Magrath  to  the  house  of  the  IM'Alisters. 
An  Irishman  is  generally  too  much  the  creature  of  im- 
pulse to  investigate  very  closely  the  origin  of  his  warm 
leeliiigsj  and  when  Magrath  did  incline  to  wonder  at  his 
growing  attachment  to  an  hen»tical  brood,  he  referred  it  to 
the  royalty  of  the  O'Neill,  which  demanded  from  him  an 
allegiance  spontaneously  paid.  Conscience  occasionally 
whispered  that  the  Lady  having  strayed  from  their  fold, 
was  under  the  ban  of  the  church ;  and  as  such  an  alien 
from  the  prerogatives  of  her  race  :  but  Magrath  turned  a 
deaf  ear  to  these  admonitions  ;  banishing  the  thought  by  a 
happy  facility  which  he  had,  of  forgetting  whatever  he 
did  not  choose  to  remember. 

Basil's  first  recital  had  revived  most  unexpectedly  the 
very  feelings  best  calculated  to  soften  his  religious  asperi- 
ties ;  and  it  was  from  a  dim  recollection  of  the  calming 
effect  which  the  Scriptures  never  failed  to  produce  on  his 
grandfather,  that  Magrath  was  led,  as  it  were,  instinctively, 
to  place  them  in  the  hands  of  those  who  writhed  under  af- 
fliction. But  to  his  own  mind  they  were  still  devoid  of 
interest,  unless  clothed  in  the  garb  of  his  kindred  tongue. 
"  It  isn't  that  I  care  for  the  Bible,"  said  he,  one  day,  when 
wishing  to  damp  the  evident  hopes  that  Basil  entertained 
of  his  conversion.  "  An  ould  legend  of  Bryan  Boromy,  or 
Conn,  would  take  my  fancy  more.  But  you  see  the  Cel- 
tic comes  so  natural  to  me,  that  the  sound  goes  through 
my  heart.  Sure,  and  didn't  they  all  speak  it  that  are  dead, 
and  they  that  are  far  away  1  Wasn't  it  the  comfort  of 
ould  Dennis  to  tell  his  griefs  in  it ;  and  didn't  I  hear  it 


DERRY.  117 

talked  round  the  dinner  board,  and  sung  over  the  cradle  % 
Och,  but  it's  a  murder  to  twist  this  Englishoff  my  tongue, 
while  the  Irish  slips  out  of  my  throat  like  the  breath  of 
my  lungs,  or  glides  down  into  my  heart  before  I'm  aware 
of  it."  An  Irishman  of  our  day  has  most  beautifully  ex- 
pressed the  charm  of  those  familiar  accents. 
And  oh  !  bo  it  heard  in  that  lancruarru  endearing, 

In  wliicli  the  Ibnd  niulher  her  lullaby  snng  ; 
Wljich  spoke  the  first  lispings  of  childhood,  and  bearing 

The  fatiicr's  last  prayer  from  iiis  now  silent  tongue. 
Tiiat  so,  when  ir  breathes  Ihc  pure  sound  of  devotion, 
And  speaks  with  the  power  that  still'd  the  rough  ocean, 
Each  breast  may  be  caim'd  into  gentler  emotion, 
And  Erin's  wild  harp  to  Hosannas  be  strung. 

When  Bryan  made  his  appearance  on  that  day,  in  the 
streets  of  Derry,  his  garb  of  deep  mourning  heightening 
the  paleness  of  his  dejected  countenance,  looks  and  words 
of  heartfelt  sympathy  followed  his  steps.  His  young 
companions  greeting  him,  evinced  in  various  modes  the 
sincerity  of  their  commiseration,  some  dashing  away  a  tear 
as  they  spoke  of  comfort,  others  bitterly  imprecating  ven- 
geance on  the  authors  of  their  common  calamities,  and 
nearly  all  describing  the  event  as  having  kindled  tenfold 
ardor  in  the  breasts  of  the  garrison. 

Arrived  at  the  Diamond,  or  open  square,  in  which  the 
four  principal  streets  of  the  city  meet,  Bryan  was  quickly 
joined  by  Ross,  and  surrounded  by  citizens  and  officers  of 
the  garrison,  all  anxious  to  tender  their  mite  of  consola- 
tion. 

He  had  not  stood  long  on  this  spot  when  a  party  ap- 
proached him,  among  whom  he  recognized  the  two  most 
distinguished  characters,  Governor  Walker  and  Colonel 
Murray. 

The  former  of  these,  a  Yorkshire  clergyman,  had  lately 
held  some  preferment  in  the  county  of  Tyrone  ;  and  being 
ardently  devoted  to  the  Protestant  cause,  which  he  con- 
11 


1 18  DEBBV. 

sidercd  it  lawful  to  support  hy  otln-r  than  spiritual  wea- 
jions,  he  had  raised  a  regiment  Jbr  the  protection  of  his  im- 
mediate neighborhood,  placinfj  himself  at  its  head.  Dur- 
ing the  early  jjart  of  Liiiuly's  administration,  and  before 
his  treachery  uas generally  .susjjtxled,  \\  alker  had  opened 
a  communication  with  iiim,  volunteering  his  services  to 
aid  in  the  defence  of  Derry  ;  and  very  materially  had  he 
conduced  to  the  first  repulse  of  the  rnemy.  '1  he  undis- 
guised malice  of  Lundy  towards  him,  and  his  refusal  to 
admit  within  the  city  one  who  had  engaged  the  foe  at  a 
few  miles  distance  during  the  whole  night,  had  aroused  the 
popular  feeling  so  strongly  against  Luiuly,  that  it  issued, 
as  we  have  seen,  in  tin;  ex|  ult-ion  of  tliat  traitor,  and  \m 
unprincipled  abettors.  ^Valker  was  tlirn,  in  conjunction 
with  Colonel  Baker,  invested  with  the  government  of 
Derry  ;  and  in  his  own  j)erson  continued  to  unit*'  the 
strangely  incongruous  characters  of  a  military  commander, 
and  civil  governor,  and  a  spiritual  pastor.  Nor  was  hii 
external  appearance  of  less  singular  combination  than  his 
official  responsibilities  ;  considerably  advanced  in  life,  his 
tall  and  commanding  figure  yet  displayi-d  no  token  of 
time's  devastating  hand,  but  well  became  the  cuirass 
which  shone  from  beneath  his  upper  garment.  This, 
however,  was  clerical,  a  gown  of  deep  purple,  with  loose 
sleeves,  and  a  large  ministerial  band  ;  but  the  military  sash 
of  bright  crimson,  not  unfrequently  stuck  with  pistols, 
formed,  with  the  cuirass,  as  unsuitable  an  accompaniment 
to  it  as  did  the  sword  which  his  right  hand  generally  bore, 
to  the  Bible  frequently  carried  in  his  left.  Governor 
Walker  Avas,  indeed,  an  apt  personification  of  the  days  in 
which  he  lived  ;  and  had  he  confined  his  active  exertions 
to  the  spot  committed  to  his  trust,  it  might  be  difficult  to 
pass,  at  this  distance  of  time,  a  severe  judgment  on  a  man 
who  certainly  appeared  so  far  commissioned  for  a  most 
extraordinary  work  ;  but  when  we  follow  him  to  the  end 


DERRY.  119 

of  his  mortal  career,  and  find  him  numbered  among  the 
slain  amid  the  waters  of  the  distant  Boyne,  whither  no 
possible  call  of  duty  could  have  led  him,  we  are  again 
brought  back  to  the  emphatic  warning  of  him  whose  am- 
bassador he  assumed  to  be,  "  Put  up  thy  sword  again  into 
his  place :  for  all  they  that  take  the  sword  shall  perish 
with  the  sword." 

Murray  wore  a  far  different  aspect.  Descended  from 
the  race  of  Philiphaugh,  whence  sprung  the  house  of  Athol, 
he  inherited  an  estate  in  Ireland  from  his  fathers,  who  had 
settled  with  others  of  their  countrymen  in  the  north.  He 
held  the  Protestant  religion  with  the  tenacity  of  his  Scot- 
tish ancestry,  and  defended  it  with  the  enthusiastic  ardor 
of  his  Irish  birth  and  temperament.  Still  in  the  bloom  of 
life,  he  had  already  acquired  great  distinction  by  various 
exploits  of  military  courage  and  skill.  To  his  energetic 
proceedings,  after  fighting  his  way  to  the  gates  of  Derry  at 
the  head  of  his  troop,  was  owing  the  sudden  flight  of  Lundy 
and  his  crew;  and  Murray,  recognized  as  principal  mili- 
tary commander,  enjoyed  the  full  confidence  both  of  the 
garrison  and  citizens,  among  whom  he  was  exceedingly 
popular. 

The  day  had  brightened  into  sun-shine,  and  Shane 
O'Connogher,  leaning  on  the  arm  of  his  nephew,  hobbled 
unperceived  towards  his  young  master,  on  one  side,  while 
the  Governor  and  Colonel  approached  him  from  the  op- 
posite direction — he  was  made,  for  the  time,  an  object  of 
general  attention. 

Walker  first  advanced,  and  laying  one  hand  on  Bryan's 
shoulder,  while  he  raised  the  other  towards  heaven,  to 
which  also  he  lifted  his  expressive  countenance,  he  solemn- 
ly uttered,  "  I  saw  under  the  altar  the  souls  of  them  that 
were  slain  for  the  word  of  God,  and  for  the  testimony 
which  they  held  :  and  they  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  say- 
ing, How  long,  O  Lord,  holy  and  true,  dost  thou  not  judge 


120  DERRY. 

and  avenge  our  blood  on  them  that  dwell  on  tlie  earth  \ 
And  white  robes  wore  given  unto  every  one  of  them  ; 
and  it  was  said  unto  tlit-m  tliat  tliey  should  rest  ytt  lor  a 
little  season,  until  their  fellow  servants  also  and  their 
brethren,  that  should  be  killfd  as  they  were,  should  be  ful- 
filled." 

These  sublime  words  of  Scripture,  spoken  with  the 
deepest  emphasis  of  genuine  feeling  by  a  voice  w»dl  ac- 
customed to  make  itself  heard,  even  in  the  din  of  battle, 
produced  no  slight  ell'ect  on  the  surrounding  listeners. 
Many  an  eye  sparkled,  many  a  cheek  burned  j  and  the 
martyr's  zeal  appeared  to  kindle  among  them.  Bryan 
could  not  be  insensible  to  their  perfect  a|)plicabilily  in  the 
case  of  his  beloved  parent  and  sister  ;  well  he  knew  that 
for  the  testimony  which  they  held,  the  testimony  of  Je8U8 
as  the  only  and  all-sulTicient  Savior  of  sinners,  most 
gladly  would  they  have  laid  their  heads  on  the  block,  or 
given  their  bodies  to  the  llame.  But  he  was  also  conscious, 
that  the  indiscriminate  zeal  of  Walker  would  have  ap- 
plied the  same  passage  to  any  among  the  ungodly  multi- 
tude, who  had  fallen,  as  Protestants,  by  the  baud  of  the 
common  foe.  He  could  not,  therefore,  yield  the  animated 
response  which  the  same  passage  would  have  called  for, 
if  adduced  by  the  lip  of  Malcolm,  or  of  Basil  ;  but  he  deep- 
ly felt  the  alfectionate  sympathy  of  the  warlike  pastor, 
and,  clasping  his  descending  hand,  assured  him  that  by  the 
grace  of  God,  he  was  enabled  to  resign  submissively  what 
his  unerring  judgment  had  seen  fit  to  recal  from  among 
the  many  blessings  bestowed  on  him. 

"  Right,  my  young  friend.  You  did  not,  without  count- 
ing the  cost,  close  these  gates  against  the  popish  legions, 
and  choose  the  defence  of  the  Lord  Almighty  before  the 
favor  of  a  treacherous  king.  We  shall  conquer  yet,  for 
our  cause  is  righteous,  our  hearts  are  true,  and  our  hands 
strong  ;  and  they  who  now  lament  the  sorest,  will  exult  the 


DERRY.  121 

loudest,  when  God  has  broken  this  accursed  3'oke  from  off 
the  neck  of  the  country."  He  drew  back,  and  Colonel 
Murray,  extending  his  hand  to  Bryan,  spoke  with  a  warmth 
that  crimsoned  his  cheek  and  bedewed  his  eye. 

"  Believe  me,  M'AIister,  there  is  not  a  heart  within  these 
walls,  but  throbs  for  your  calamity  in  mingled  sorrow  and 
wr-'h.     The  first  shot,  I  may  almost  say,  seems  to  have 

•  :  d  you  out,  as  the  fittest  object  of  revenge — you,  who 

.0  been  foremost  among  the  gallant  citizens  of  Derry, 
.0  stamp  upon  her  annals  the  record  of  inflexible  patriot- 
ism, shewing  them  an  example  of  active  courage,  as  now 
of  pious,  unshrinking  endurance."  The  sentiment  was  so 
accordant  with  those  of  the  by-standers,  that  it  elicited  an 
audible  buz  of  approbation,  restrained  only  by  delicacy 
from  breaking  out  into  louder  applause.  The  Colonel, 
then,  stepping  back  a  pace  or  two,  still  facing  Bryan,  with 
both  hands  resting  on  his  sword,  and  the  same  bright  ani- 
mation playing  on  his  countenance,  resumed  in  a  yet  loud- 
er tone — 

"  Reparation  we  cannot  offer  for  this  deep  wrong  sus- 
tained in  the  public  cause :  yet  what  we  can  do  we  will. 
Yonder,  M'AIister," — and  he  pointed  with  his  sword — 
"yonder  are  the  infernal  machines  that  brought  death  into 
your  peaceful  home.  A  sally  is  projected ;  that  battery 
must  be  stormed,  and  the  unanimous  voice  of  your  fellow- 
townsmen  will  confirm  my  words,  when  I  concede  to  your 
well  tried  courage  and  fidelity,  the  post  of  honor — the  con- 
duct of  this  assault— the  privilege  of  this  just  and  honor- 
able act  of  vengeance."  A  loud  and  general  cheer  from 
his  auditory  gave  the  anticipated  confirmation. 

Never  in  the  course  cf  his  short  experience,  had  Bryan 
been  called  on  to  maintain  such  a  struggle  against  every 
bias  of  natural  feeling.  Young,  ardent,  and  devoted  to 
the  cause  in  which  so  many  of  his  race  had  bled,  he  could 
not  be  insensible  to  the  personal  distinction  conferred,  by 
11* 


122  DERRY. 

such  marked  ipspect  from  Walker  and  Murray.  Twice 
load  he,  with  ditiiculty,  stifled  the  secret  cry  for  revenge, 
to  whicli  this  public  invitation  seemed,  to  give  a  momen- 
tary sanctii)n  :  while  all  around  him  was  calculated  to  feed 
the  indignant  fire,  as  well  as  to  render  more  intolerable  the 
imputation  of  cowardice,  with  which  a  refusal  might  liiirly 
brand  his  name.  The  bright  eye  of  Murray,  and  the  ap- 
proving smile  of  Walker  were  both  upon  him  ;  his  young 
companions  crowded  around,  eager  to  volunteer  their  ser- 
vices beneath  his  leadership.  The  sword  of  M'Alister  was 
girded  over  his  sable  coat,  and  on  its  liili  his  left  hand  un- 
consciously rested  ;  while  a  discharge  from  the  enemy's 
guns,  and  a  bugle  call  from  the  guard-house,  completed 
the  exciting  concomitants  of  that  trying  moment. 

And  how  did  Bryan  meet  this  exigency  \  In  a  strength 
not  his  own.  The  principle  on  which  he  had  dcclint'd  to 
mingle  in  offensive  warfare  was  unchanged,  nor  could  its 
strong  foundation  be  shaken  by  the  inroad  made  upon  his 
personal  happiness.  Indeed,  as  he  raised  his  heart  in 
mental  prayer,  that  event  assumed  a  restraining  character, 
as  recalling  forcibly  to  mind  the  command,  "Avenge  not 
yourselves — vengeance  is  mine,  I  will  repay,  saith  the 
Lord."  Bryan's  resolution  was  taken  :  but  before  he  could 
give  utterance  to  it,  Shane  caught  hold  of  his  sl»^eve.  The 
old  man  had  frequently  expressed  his  displeasure  at  the 
pacific  counsels  of  the  Lady  of  M'Alister,  and  loudly  urged 
his  master  to  seek  distinction  in  the  paths  of  military  peril ; 
but  the  last  blow  had  fallen  so  heavily  on  the  acred  suffer- 
er, that  his  spirit  was  utterly  broken  by  it ;  and  di^racted 
by  the  apprehension  of  seeing  the  youth  borne  home,  a 
mangled  corpse,  to  their  house  of  mourning,  he  now  utter- 
ed, in  a  plaintive  tone,  an  appeal,  which  increased  the  em- 
barrassments of  Bryan's  situation. 

"  Musha,  then.  Honey  dear,  is  it  yourself  that'll  go  to 
be  murdered  and  shot  by  the  butcherly  hands  that  have 


DERRY.  123 

laid  your  kin  in  an  untimely  grave  ?  Ahone  !  but  a  bloody 
welcome  ye'll  get,  and  the  Lady's  heart  to  burst  over 
your  coffin." 

''  Silence  your  blarney  there  !"  exclaimed  an  angry  by- 
stander J  "  d'ye  think  that  ever  a  lad  of  us  goes  out  to  bat- 
tle, but  some  lady's  heart  must  stand  a  chance  of  an  ache, 
or  may  be  a  breaking,  before  he  comes  backl" 

"Fie,  fie,  man  !  '  cried  another  ;  "  what's  to  come  over 
us,  if  old  soldiers  preach  up  faint-heartedness  to  young 
ones  V 

"  Och,  and  it's  no  less  than  Shane  O'Connogher,"  added 
a  third,  more  angrily,  "  old  fire-eating  Shane,  persuading 
his  master  to  be  a  coward  !" 

That  word  cut  Bryan  to  the  heart ;  his  color  rose,  and 
his  lip  quivered,  and  he  felt  as  though  more  were  required 
of  him  than  strength  was  given  to  achieve.  But  seeing 
Shane  about  to  renew  his  pleadings,  he  hastily  interposed, 
and  looking  on  the  last  speaker,  said,  "  Cannot  charity 
surmise  a  less  disgraceful  motive  than  cowardice,  where 
the  hand  is  withheld  from  taking  vengeance  for  a  private 
wrong  V 

"  Private  !"  repeated  Walker,  "  can  that  wrong  be  pri- 
vate M'hich  has  carried  blood  and  havoc  into  the  family  of 
a  patriotic  citizen  1  Nay,  but  '  if  one  member  suffer,  the 
rest  suffer  with  it.' — Your  wrong,  M'Alister,  is  ours,  and 
our  wrongs  are  j^ours.  Private  !"  and  he  pointed  to  where 
a  bomb  was  at  that  moment  falling  over  the  houses ;  "  me- 
thinks  such  messengers  as  that  are  sufficiently  public  to 
appease  all  scruples  on  the  score  of  individual  grievance- 
Come,  young  gentleman,  I,  an  Englishman,  am  daily  haz- 
arding my  life  on  behalf  of  your  country — I,  a  minister  of 
the  gospel  of  peace,"  and  he  drew  his  little  bible  from  his 
bosom,  "  am  in  arms  to  defend  the  most  holy  faith  contain- 
ed in  this  precious  book.  Think  you  that  a  private  wrong 
from  yonder  savages,  would  win  me  to  renounce  this  glo- 
rious cause  1  such  qualms  are  unseemly," 


124  DERRY. 

"  Nevertheless,"  replied  Bryan,  "  as  I  have  hitherto  de- 
clared my  purpose  of  maintaining  the  character  which  I 
at  first  assumed  — one  purely  defensive — I  have  yet  to 
learn  on  what  grounds  I  may  now  consistently  depart 
from  it,  under  a  full  disclaimer  of  personal  revenge." 

"  Please  yourself,  Sir,"  said  Walker,  as  he  coolly  turned 
away  ;  and  Bryan  had  to  endure  the  glance,  the  -hnig, 
the  whisper  of  wonder  and  contempt,  from  many  of  those 
who  had  most  eagerly  pressed  forward  to  hail  him  their 
appointed  leader.  Even  Ross  walked  off  in  gloomy  dis- 
pleasure ;  but  Murray,  after  a  jiause  of  evident  perplexity 
and  disap[)ointment,  gave  proof  of  the  generous  feeling  for 
which  he  was  distinguished.  In  the  same  clear,  audible 
tone  he  once  more  addressed  !!\I'Alister :  "  I  cannot  say 
that  1  fully  comprehend  the  nature  of  your  distinction, 
nor  where  the  precise  line  of  demarcation  lies.  But  your 
scruples  I  respect,  because  I  know,^^  and  he  laid  a  strong 
emphasis  on  the  word,  "  that  your  personal  intrepidity  is 
unimpeachable  as  your  pnncijiles — both  above  the  breath- 
ing of  a  question.  I  would  not,  1  confess,  desire  to  see  the 
example  generally  followed,  under  our  present  circum- 
stances ;  but  no  man  of  honorable  feeling  can  withhold 
the  testimony  of  warm  esteem,  where  consistency  of  con- 
duct springs  from  purity  of  motive.  Give  me  your  hand, 
M'Alister;  a  hand  that  will  never  flinch  from  any  enter- 
prise, where  your  conscience  approves."  And  with  this 
kind  farewell  he  followed  Walker. 

Oppressed,  and  yet  relieved  from  a  far  sorer  oppression, 
Bryan  turned  towards  the  burying  ground,  hoping  by  a 
visit  to  that  endeared  spot,  to  calm  his  agitated  spirit :  yet 
before  he  reached  the  corner,  now  so  sadly  precious,  his 
attention  was  attracted  by  two  children,  seated  on  a  new 
made  grave,  and  crying  bitterly.  Bryan  knew  it  to  be 
that  of  a  young  townsman,  who  had  fallen  in  the  sally  of 
the  preceding  Sunday ;  and  drawn  by  sympathy,  he  ap- 


DERRT.  12S 

proached  the  youthful  mourners,  gently  inquiring  why 
they  grieved  :  "  Oh,  isn't  it  enough  to  be  grieving  at," 
cried  the  girl,  "  when  brother  Patrick  is  lying  down  here, 
ever  so  deep,  and  will  never  get  up  again  !" 

"  Mother  is  always  calling  him,"  added  the  boy,  who 
was  much  younger,  "  but  he  doesn't  come,  any  how  ; 
though  I've  called  him  too."  And  putting  down  his  rosy 
mouth  to  the  sod,  he  shouted  "Pat !"  with  all  his  power. 

"  Ah,  vein  of  our  hearts,"  sobbed  the  girl,  as  she  also 
bent  downwards,  "  is  it  never  that  you'll  answer  us  again, 
your  poor  little  Thadv  and  me  !" 

Bryan  was  deeply  touched  ;  he  seated  himself  by  them 
on  the  grave,  and  said,  "  My  dears,  1  can  feel  for  your 
sorrow,  and  you  for  mine.  Look  yonder,  in  that  corner, 
at  the  large  new  mound  of  clay  ;  my  own  fond  mother, 
my  young  and  beautiful  sister,  were  buried  there  last 
night" — he  could  not  proceed. 

The  little  boy  leaned  against  him,  looking  up  in  his 
face,  while  the  girl  said,  "  W  hat,  the  ladies  is  it  I — the 
ladies  killed  by  the  big  shot  in  their  bed  ?" 

Bryan  nodded  assent.  "  Oh,  then,  and  I  wish  you  saw 
my  mother  ;  it's  the  only  thing  she'll  hear  about,  let  alone 
Patrick.  May  be  she'd  listen,  if  you  spoke  of  them  first, 
and  then  of  Jesus  Christ." 

"  And  why  of  the  Savior  last  1" 

"  I  don't  rightly  know  ;  she'd  be  talking  of  nothing  else, 
and  Pat  couldn't  tire  of  reading  about  him  in  the  ould  bi- 
ble. But  now,  joy,  if  we'll  be  spaking  the  least  word,  she 
goes  wild,  and  cries  out  for  Pat,  to  no  end." 

"  Will  you  take  me  to  see  her  ?"  asked  Bryan. 

"  Och,  and  it's  we  that  will,  sure,"  answered  the  girl, 
rising  with  alacrity ;  but  the  boy  remained  seated,  and  as 
Bryan  moved  away,  he  pulled  at  his  coat,  saying,  "  Sir,  if 
you'd  call  very  loud,  Pat,  may  be  he'd  hear  you — Sir,  will 
you  then  1" 


126  OTJRRY. 

Bryan  made  no  answor,  but  lifting  the  child  in  his  arms, 
and  taking  the  girl  by  the  hand,  conducted  thoni  to  the 
other  grave. 

"  See,  my  dears,  if  calling  would  waken  the  dead,  do 
you  not  tiiiiik  that  1  should  raise  my  voice,  and  shout  for 
those  who  lie  here  to  return  to  me  1" 

"  May  be  not,  Sir,"  said  the  girl.  "  Heaven  is  a  better 
place  for  them — no  shot  lly  about  there:  Josus  Christ 
feeds  them,  and  takes  care  of  them." 

Surprised,  and  soothed  too,  Bryan  rejoined,  "  Most  true, 
my  child  ;  nor  would  I,  as  I  meant  to  tell  you,  bring  them 
back  to  this  world  of  woe  :  for  I  know  that  they  are  with 
Jesus.  But  how  comes  it  that  you  wished  to  try  and  awak- 
en Patrick  '." 

The  girl  again  began  to  sob,  and  twisting  her  little 
apron,  said,  "  I  didn't  wish  to  try,  because  1  knew  that  the 
dead  would  never  wake,  till  the  angel  comes  with  a  trum- 
pet. But  mother  cries  out  so,  and  she  can't  believe  that 
he's  with  Jesus  Christ.  It's  Thady  wants  to  call  him  up, 
to  make  mother  eat." 

]\Iore  than  ever  interested  for  his  little  companions, 
Bryan  only  remained  long  enough  by  the  grave  to  declare 
to  them  in  simple  terms  the  blessedness  of  sleeping  in  Je- 
sus ;  with  a  solemn  warning  of  the  hourly  peril  in  which 
their  lives  were  placed  :  and  then,  still  carrying  Thady, 
who  had  become  drowsy  with  grief  and  fatigue,  he  accom- 
panied Sarah  to  the  abode  of  her  parent,  which  was  not  far 
distant. 

It  was  the  house  of  a  widow,  in  humble,  yet  decent  cir- 
cumstances ;  but  all  bore  the  marks  of  desolation  and  dis- 
order. In  a  high-backed  chair,  at  the  farther  end  of  a  little 
darkened  apartment,  reclined  the  mother  ;  her  apron 
thrown  over  her  face.  A  compassionate  neighbor  watch- 
ed beside  her,  who,  on  their  silent  approach,  whispered, 
"  I'm  tliinking  she  sleeps,  the  bereaved  creature !" 


DEBRY.  127 

"Sleeps!"  repeated  the  mourner,  throwing  the  apron 
from  her  face  ;  "  No,  no — he  giveth  his  beloved  sleep,  but 
none  to  me." 

Bryan  quietly  seated  himself  near  her,  and  carefully 
supporting  the  little  Thady,  showed  him  to  his  mother,  in 
a  profound  slumber.  He  was  a  beautiful  child  ;  and  the 
traces  of  tears  on  his  eyelids  and  cheeks,  with  the  disor- 
dered state  of  his  auburn  locks,  added  much  to  the  interest 
of  his  appearance.  The  mother's  attention  was  arrested ; 
she  gazed  on  her  boy ;  and  Bryan  said,  "  Is  not  this  one  of 
His  beloved  l  see  how  peacefully  he  sleeps.  I  found 
him,"  he  continued,  "  near  the  spot  where  last  night  I 
buried  my  mother  and  sister." 

This  abrupt  intimation  had  all  the  effect  that  he  antici- 
pated ;  the  widow  looked  at  him  with  much  compassion, 
and  taking  his  hand,  burst  into  tears. 

"  I  have  trusted  the  Lord,"  continued  Bryan,  "  while 
his  dealings  were  plain  and  comprehensible  to  human 
reason ;  but  now  is  the  trial  of  faith,  when  he  comes  in  a 
cloud,  rending  away  our  heart-strings,  and  the  soul  would, 
if  it  could,  stay  his  hand,  and  say  unto  him.  What  doest 
Thou  1" 

The  widow  shook  her  head  from  side  to  side,  and  hid 
her  face,  but  spoke  not.     Bryan  resumed. 

"  To  have  trusted  in  him,  to  have  sought  him  long  in 
earnest  prayer,  and  confidently  known  that  the  prayer  of 
faith  could  not  fail :  to  have  seen  a  token  of  gracious  ac- 
ceptance, and  then  the  veil  drawn,  and  all  left  dark — im- 
penetrably dark — oh,  it  teaches  us  a  lesson  of  our  own  un- 
belief, most  sorely  humbling.  For,  had  we  faith,  but  as  a 
grain  of  mustard  seed,  we  should  cast  ourselves  upon  that 
Beal,  '  the  promise  of  God  standeth  sure.'  "' 

"Oh,  Sir,"  exclaimed  the  poor  woman,  "  your's  are  the 
first  words  that  have  reached  my  heart,  and  sure  I  see  a 


128  DERRY. 

Jittit?  briciht  spot  of  hope  and  coinfort  where  all  seemed 
blacker  than  midnight. " 

She  then  told  him,  that  her  dear  boy  had  given  many 
evidences  of  spiritual  feeling,  delighting  in  the  scriptures 
and  prayer.  That  on  the  preceding  Saturday  he  had 
been  appointed  to  accompany  «i  party  in  the  sally  of  the 
following  day  ;  but  did  nut  make  it  known  to  her  until  the 
Sabbath  morning  ;  when  on  her  requesting  him  to  attend 
her  and  the  children  to  public  worship,  he  was  obliged 
to  confess  that  his  destination  was  far  different.  In  vain 
did  she  plead,  and  weep,  and  set  l)efore  him  the  sin  of  vi- 
olating the  Lord's  day :  to  hinder  him  was  impossible,  and 
■when  he  asked  for  her  blessing,  she  still  continued  to  urge 
him,  imtil,  after  hastily  embracing  her,  he  ran  off.  His 
mangled  remains  were  brought  home  at  night :  and  utter 
despair  in  regard  to  his  eternal  portion,  had  taken  posses* 
sion  of  her  mind  to  that  hour. 

liy  representing  the  peculiar  nature  of  that  obligation 
which  compelled  the  youth  to  follow  his  commanders, 
Bryan  convinced  her,  that  she  was  not  justified  in  deciding 
so  unfavorably,  on  this  awfully  interesting  question.  He 
exhorted  her  rather  to  receive  the  message  as  one  of  ad- 
monition to  herself,  sent  in  love,  to  rebuke  and  chasten, 
for  the  quickening  of  zeal  and  repentance. 

He  dwelt  on  the  mysteriousness  of  the  divine  dispensa- 
tions towards  the  most  favored  people  of  God  ;  and  ob- 
tained a  promise,  that  she  would  seek  grace  to  rest  her 
burden  on  the  unchangeableness  of  him,  whose  gifts  and 
calling  are  without  repentance. 

After  kneeling  in  prayer,  and  persuading  her  to  take 
proper  sustenance,  he  left  a  kiss  on  little  Thady's  bloom- 
ing cheek,  and  departed.  At  the  door,  Sarah  stood,  and 
raising  her  eyes  to  his  face,  with  a  low  curtsey,  pronounced 
the  words,  "The  Lord  bless  ye,  Sir!"'  in  a  tone  of  such 


DERRY.  129 

solemn,  such  earnest  gratitude,  that  Bryan's  heart  wel- 
comed the  blessing,  and  acknowledged  the  hand  of  God 
in  honoring  him  with  this  commission  to  comfort  his 
mourners,  rather  than  permitting  to  go  forth  on  an  embassy 
of  destruction  against  his  wretched  and  deluded  country- 
men. 


12 


CHAPTER  IX 


To  comnuinicato  the  tidinf!;s  of  Bryan's  resolute  consist 
tency,  Shane  OX'onnogher  had  hastened  home :  hut  Ma- 
grath  lingered  about  the  Diamond,  exceedin2;ly  provoked 
by  the  sarcasms  occasionally  levelled  at  his  absent  master. 
Still  he  restrained  himself;  until,  sauntering  near  a  small 
group  of  the  better  sort  of  citizens,  he  heard  a  respectable 
merchant,  an  alderman,  wlio  prided  himself  on  particular 
friendship  with  Governor  Walker,  most  vehemently  pro- 
testing that  the  insolent  young  scoundrel  ought  to  be 
drummed  out  of  the  city  forthwith. 

"  Nay,''  observed  another,  smiling,  "  such  a  punishment 
would  be  somewhat  too  severe  for  a  silly  notion  learnt  of 
his  fantastical  old  grandmother." 

"  'Tis  no  such  thing,"  answered  the  other,  "  malice  and 
envy  against  Dr.  ^^  alker  prompted  every  word  that  fel- 
low uttered.  Did  you  not  perceive,  in  his  sanctimonious 
abhorrence  of  blood-shedding,  an  implied  censure  on  our 
heroic  governor  1  If  a  layman,  forsooth  !  couldn't  draw 
the  sword  against  popish  traitors,  how  much  less  a  clergy- 
man !  This  M'Alister,  with  all  his  fine  mouthing,  is  a 
rebel  at  heart,  a  hypocrite  and  a  coward." 

This  was  two  much  for  Magrath  :  with  that  peculiar  ex- 
pression of  bitter  irony  and  stern  disdain  in  which  he  had 
lew  competitors,   he   addressed   the  angry    calumniator. 


DERRY.  131 

"  Sure,  and  the  lad's  out  of  hearing :    you  needn't  spare 
your  lungs." 

"  What  does  the  rascal  mean  V  asked  the  other,  sur- 
veying him  from  top  to  toe. 

"  Mane  !  what  would  it  mane  but  to  put  the  lie  down 
the  throat  of  any  spalpeen  that  names  coward  on  Bryan 
M'Alister." 

"  Hark  ye,  Sir,"  said  another  citizen,  shaking  his  cane, 
"  if  you  don't  ask  pardon  for  your  insolence,  we'll  soon 
teach  you  better  manners." 

"  Pardon  is  it  \  Fait,  and  I've  nothing  to  pardon  you 
for  :  it  wasn't  your  honor  that  spake  against  him." 

"Away  with  you,  Paddy,"  said  an  English  officer,  who 
stood  by,  "or  your  wit  won't  save  your  bacon." 

Magrath,  however,  moved  not,  but  continued  to  bend  a 
most  ominous  look  upon  the  first  offender,  who  called  out, 
"  Halloo  !  a  guard  here.  The  fellow's  dangerous.  Come, 
Sir,  off  to  the  council :  you  shall  confess  your  business  to 
Governor  Walker." 

"  Confess,  is  it  1  and  to  the  English  priest  \  Och,  and 
it's  little  he'll  get  out  of  me,  his  fighting  reverence,  any 
how." 

At  this  sally,  some  laughed :  others  denounced  him 
forthwith  as  a  popish  spy  ;  and  Magrath's  case  was  begin- 
ning to  assume  an  unpleasant  aspect,  when  Colonel  Murray 
riding  past,  observed  the  commotion,  and  reined  in  his 
horse. 

The  alderman  bustled  towards  him,  and  his  communica- 
tion induced  Murray  to  dismount,  directing  that  the  pris- 
oner should  be  conducted  into  the  adjoining  guard-house, 
requesting  the  attendance  of  the  governor,  who  was  at 
hand. 

All  the  evil  in  Magrath's  character  was  now  at  work  : 
religious  prejudice,  party  animosity,  and  the  dark  passions 
of  revengeful  nature.     Every  individual  present  appeared 


132  DEBRY. 

a  legitimate  object  of  bis  hatred  ;  save  only  Murray,  whose 
courteous  and  consideratL-  behavior  towards  Ilryan  had 
completely  disarmed  his  malignity.  The  colonel,  how- 
ever, took  his  seat  on  a  side-bench,  in  the  attitude  of  an 
observer  only  ;  while  Walker,  with  the  alderman,  and 
other  leading  men,  appeared  in  the  conspicuous  situation 
of  judges.  There  were  not  wanting  some  who  treated  the 
whole  matter  as  a  ridiculous  farce,  while  others  conceived 
that  a  mighty  plot  was  on  the  eve  of  discovery. 

In  fact,  the  worthy  alderman  was  an  alarmist ;  and  one 
of  those  fond  partizans  who  considered  the  whole  cause 
of  King  William  and  the  Protestant  faith,  to  hang  on  the 
individual  exertions  and  personal  security  of  Governor 
Walker:  who,  on  his  part,  had  by  far  too  much  good 
eense  and  integrity  to  encourage  such  misplaced  confi- 
dence in  a  fellow  mortal. 

The  charge  having  been  gone  into,  the  harsh  expres- 
sions of  the  alderman  being  considerably  softened  in  his 
own  statement,  Magrath  was  asked  what  excuse  he  could 
offer  for  so  insulting  an  attack  on  one  who  had  given  him 
no  offence. 

"  Give  him  his  oath,"  answered  the  prisoner,  "  till  I 
cross-question  him."  This  proposal,  exciting  some  mirth 
at  the  alderman's  expense,  increased  his  wrath. 

"  He  has  been  on  his  trial  before  now,  I'll  warrant  you, 
and  for  something  more  serious ;  but  waving  the  insult, 
which  is,  in  truth,  beneath  my  notice,  I  tax  the  fellow 
with  being  a  popish  spy."  Then  seeing  Ross,  who  had 
mingled  with  the  crowd,  he  added,  "  You,  Sir,  as  the  inti- 
mate companion  of  young  M'Alister,  can  attest  whether 
this  fellow  has  really  been  brought  up  in  his  family  or  not." 

"  Does  he  assert  that  he  was  V  asked  a  person  whom 
Ross  recognized  as  the  original  captor  of  IMagrath. 

It  was  generally  admitted  that  no  such  assertion  had 
been  made  :  while  the  inflexible  composure  of  Magrath 
impressed  many  in  his  favor. 


DERRY. 


133 


"  It  does  not  appear  to  rtie,"  remarked  Governor  W'alk- 
er,  "  that  any  thing  more  is  proved  than  a  very  rude  and 
unjustifiable  speech  to  a  superior.  If  the  prisoner  can 
show  himself  authorized  to  fight  the  battles  of  .Mr.  M'Alis- 
ter,  I,  for  one,  shall  be  content  to  u^e  my  influence  with  my 
good  friend  Crowe,  to  accept  an  apology  and  dismiss  him." 

"Plase  your  riverince,"  asked  Magrath,  with  a  look  of 
simplicity ;  "  what  call  would  a  man  shew  for  fighting  of 
battles  V 

"  There  now  !"  exclaimed  the  alderman  :  but  Walker, 
with  great  good  humor,  replied,  "  the  call  of  duty,  my 
lad.  A  loyal  man  may  fight  when  his  king's  authority  is  re- 
sisted ;  a  Christian  man  will  fight  the  battles  of  his  faith ;  and 
an  attached  follower  may  stand  by  his  master  when  assail- 
ed ;  which  in  the  present  instance  I  do  not  see  to  have 
been  the  case.  But  come  :  our  time  is  precious :  call 
witness  to  prove  your  connection  with  the  IM'Alister  fami- 
ly ;  and  then  make  a  suitable  apology  to  this  gentleman." 

Ross  stepped  forward,  and  said  that  he  knew  Magrath  to 
have  been  some  time  in  the  family,  that  a  near  relation  of 
his  had  served  them  for  half  a  century,  and  the  attachment, 
he  believed,  was  very  strong. 

"  And  is  he  a  steady  adherent  to  our  cause  V  asked  the 
suspicious  alderman. 

"  He  was  among  the  first  to  assume  the  white  badge,  to 
my  knowledge." 

"  And  his  religion  1" 

Here  one  of  the  soldiers  quartered  in  the  house,  eagerly 
advanced  to  depose  that  Magrath  had,  on  that  morning,  in- 
vited him  to  join  in  family  worship,  at  which  he  was  also 
present,  "  After  what  form?"  inquired  the  persevering 
accuser.  The  soldier  answered,  that  they  belonged  to  the 
Established  Church. 

"  All  well,"  said  the  governor :  "  and  now  make  an  am- 
ple apology  to  the  alderman." 
12* 


134  DERBY. 

But  Magrath  was  thoroughly  bf  nt  to  ruin  his  own  cause. 
He  roundly  accused  Mr.  Crowe  of  having  "  meniled  one 
big  lie  with  a  bigger,"  and  insisted  that  the  apology  ought 
to  come  from  him. 

"  Let  him  state  his  own  case,"  said  Colonel  Murray, 
"  or  we  shall  never  have  it  ended." 

Magrath  turned  to  him,  his  countenance  brightened,  and 
his  manner  softening  from  dogged  sullenness  into  cour^ 
tcous  respect.  "  VV^hy,  then,  your  honor,  and  I'll  answer 
to  you  with  all  the  pleasure  in  life." 

"  Take  my  place,  colonel,"  cried  Walker,  "  and  mak« 
what  dispatch  you  can." 

"Sure,  your  riverince,  you'll  he  laving  your  blessing 
over  us,  anyhow  V  drawled  out  Magrath,  in  a  ridiculous 
tone,  as  Walter  stopped  to  buckle  on  his  sword. 

"Come,  come,"  said  Murray,  rapping  his  knuckles 
loudly  on  the  tables,  "  no  more  trifling,  Sir,  be  brief." 

In  a  moment  Magrath  assumed  the  aspect  and  attitude 
of  a  man  resolved  to  make  good  his  cause ;  and  fixing  a 
proud  look  on  Murray,  said,  "  It's  yourself.  Sir  that  would 
scorn  to  put  wrong  over  right,  or  to  call  a  noble  young 
gentleman  out  of  his  name,  braving  him  behind  his  back. 
It  was  you  that  spoke  the  generous  word  for  him  ;  and 
yourself  would  have  stopped  the  foul  mouth  that  angered 
me. 

"  Angered  you,  truly  !"  interrupted  the  alderman. 
Magrath  turned  fiercely  round.     "  Didn't  you  call  him 
a  rebel? — didn't  you  call  him  a  hypocrite! — didn't  yo 
stick  the  name  of  coward  upon  him  1" 

"  I  hope  not,"  said  Murray,  "  your  fancy,  my  lad,  help 
ed  out  this  meaning." 

"Fancy  is  it  V  Then  faking  a  cane  from  one  who 
stood  near,  he  touched  with  it  the  shoulderof  a  gentleman, 
saying,  "  You'll  plase.  Sir,  to  give  evidence.  Sworn  you 
are  not — a  poor  Irishman's  good  name  isn't  worth  such 


BERRY.  136 

Becurity — but  a  gentleman's  word  is  fair  coin.  Speak  the 
truth,  Sir." 

"  Reall}^"  answered  the  person  appealed  to,  "  I  cannot 
in  conscience  refuse.  Certainly,  Crowe,  you  did  use  the 
words,  though  I  am  sure  they  were  spoken  in  the  heat  of 
argument." 

The  momentary  displeasure  occasioned  by  Bryan's  con- 
duct had  already  disnppeared  from  the  minds  of  those  who 
well  knew  and  rightly  appreciated  his  examplary  charac- 
ter. Considerable  indignation  was  excited  by  this  disclo- 
sure ;  and  not  a  little  heightened  when  Magrath  proceed- 
ed  "  Wasn't  he  gone  to  grieve  over  the  clay  that  these 

two  hands  shovelled  last  night  into  the  grave  I  Didn't  he 
return  to  see  where  they  are  not,  who  used  to  brighten  hie 
meals  when  he  came  in  from  the  long  guard,  and  the  com- 
fortless watching  1  A  hypocrite  !  aye,  he  will  put  a  smile 
over  the  breaking  heart,  to  cheer  up  them  that  are  fading 
before  his  eyes.  A  rebel  is  he  1 — and  the  blood  of  0  Neill 
in  every  vein  !" — he  trembled  with  passionate  emotion. 

"A  great  preservative,  that  against  rebellion  !"  said  Al- 
derman Crowe,  sneeringly. 

"  Pardon  me,"  interrupted  JMurray,  somewhat  warmly, 
"  but  allowances  must  be  made  for  those  national  feelings 
which  are  enterwoven  with  our  very  being.  This  poor 
fellow's  attachment  may  well  gather  strength  from  the  cir- 
cumptance  to  which  he  last  alluded.  Young  M'Alister 
holds  some  singular  opinions,  but  I  confess  that  his  manly 
avowal  of  them  struck  me  as  indicating  the  reverse  of  hy- 
pocrisy. As  to  rebellion  or  cowardice,  the  words  might 
escape  in  a  moment  of  initation,  but  intentionally  they 
could  not  be  uttered  in  reference  to  M'Alisler." 

"  Right  for  ye.  Colonel  Murray,"  said  Magrath,  trium- 
phantly, "  but  his  worship  spoke  a  true  word  that  he 
could'nt  make  good.  He  called  me  a  popish  spy.  Now, 
a  Catholic  I  am,  and  never  denied  it ;  and  if  I  didn't  come 


136  DERRY. 

here  as  a  s[jy,  I  came  as  an  cnprny.  It  Isn't  for  love  of 
your  faith,  nor  for  love  of  your  cause,  that  Im  your 
friend,  anyhow  :  but  Ive  borne  the  badge,  and  Til  stick  to 
it,  for  the  sake  of  Bryan  AI'Alister." 

"Upon  my  word,'  said  the  alderman,  "we  are  prettily 
garrisoned,  under  this  young  gentleman's  command." 

"You  are  at  liberty,  Magrath,"  observed  the  Colonel, 
rising.  "  Return  to  your  master ;  but,  in  future  put  a 
check  on  these  hasty  ebullitions,  or  the  consequences  may 
be  more  serious."  Then,  leaving  the  room,  he  remarked 
to  a  brother  othcer,  "  such  a  fellow  is  worth  a  regiment  of 
mercenary  allii's." 

Not  a  lew  of  the  party  concurred  in  this  sentiment  ;  for 
among  the  most  faithful  adherents  of  the  alllicted  Pro- 
testants were  often  found  those,  who  though  refusing  to 
forsake  their  religion,  yet  held  it  in  subordination  to  their 
more  earthly  attachments  :  and  the  bold  honesty  of  Ma- 
grath's  avowals  had  made  its  way  to  many  manly  bosoms. 
The  alderman,  however,  was  exci-edingly  annoyed  at  the 
unceremonious  manner  ui  which  Murray  had  dismissed  the 
prisoner,  without  even  pressing  the  condition  of  an  apolo- 
gy. In  fact,  Murray  possessed  too  enlarged  a  mind  for  the 
abode  of  party  spirit,  which  loves  to  coil  itself  within  a 
contracted  habitation.  His  generous  sympathy  was 
awakened  by  Magrath's  brief  yet  touching  allusion  to 
M'Alister's  domestic  calamity;  and  the  concluding  trait  of 
enthusiastic  nationality  struck  a  kindred  chord  in  his  own 
chivalric  character,  to  which  the  alderman's  unfeeling  re- 
mark presented  a  discordant  contrast. 

There  had,  indeed,  been  such  displays — displays  of  mu- 
tual animosity — within  the  walls  of  Derry,  as  well  nigh 
disheartened  her  warmest  defenders ;  and  happy  it  was  for 
them,  that  the  more  elevated  characters  who  now  took  the 
lead,  both  in  civil  and  military  concerns,  placed  a  check 
on  these  foolish  and  disgraceful  exhibitions ;  the  nature  of 


DERRY.  ]37 

■which  may  be  judged  from  the  fact  that,  a  short  time  be- 
fore, in  that  very  place,  the  Diamond,  two  parties,  Epis- 
copalian and  Presbyterian,  had  actually  arrayed  themselves 
to  fight  for  the  privileges  of  respectively  using  the  cathe- 
dral as  a  place  of  worship !  The  right  feeling  of  a  few 
principal  m<'n  interposed,  to  prevent  this  alm.ost  incredible 
act  of  madness  ;  and  Walker  succeeded  in  convincing 
both  parties  that  Hewson,  the  individual  who  had  instigated 
them  to  it,  was  a  hired  emissary  of  T3rconners.  By  much 
persuasion  they  were  induced  to  adjust  the  difference,  and 
agree  to  use  alternately  the  venerable  edifice  on  the  Sab- 
bath :  and  once  in  the  week  also  the  ministers  of  the  kirk 
were  invited  to  assemble  their  congregations  beneath  its 
roof.  Increasing  danger  and  privations  quickly  united 
tlie  sincere  Protestants  in  a  common  bond  ot  fidelity :  but 
sad  were  the  forebodings  of  those  whose  spiritual  discern- 
ment could  detect,  in  this  unseemly  contest,  the  permitted 
power  of  Satan  within,  while  his  more  open  instruments 
from  without  were  so  vauntingly  defied. 

There  was  also  much  of  treacherous  instability  among 
the  worldly  class,  which  manifested  itself  by  degrees  in 
frequent  desertions,  accompanied  sometimes  with  dis- 
closures that  kept  the  garrison  in  continual  fear  lest  the 
enemy's  guns  should  be  so  pointed  as  to  ignite  their  scanty 
stores  of  ammunition  ;  and  those  very  characters,  whose 
blind  attachment  was  wont  to  manifest  itself  in  ebullitions 
of  misjudging  zeal,  like  that  of  Alderman  Crowe,  were  the 
most  ready  and  efficient  dupes  of  such  hollow  professors. 
Crowe  had  a  follower,  in  whom  he  placed  unbounded  con- 
fidence, on  the  ground  of  his  having  forsaken  popery  out 
of  compliment  to  himself;  and  this  man  was  made  ac- 
quainted with  many  deliberations  that  were  not  supposed 
to  be  divulged  beyond  the  council-chamber.  To  him  the 
alderman  communicated  his  suspicions  respecting  Magrath, 
and  directed  him  to  keep  an  eye  on  the  audacious  avower 


138  DERRY. 

of  popery — an  injunction  upon  wliicli  the  other  acted, 
from  motives  somewhat  unlike  those  suggested  by  his  em- 
ployer. 

Time  was  rolling  on,  and  the  warmth  of  approaching 
summer  appeared  far  more  dreadful  than  the  rudest  storms 
of  winter  to  so  dense  a  population,  pent  up  within  a  nar- 
row compass.  Alter  the  beginning  of  May,  the  throwing 
of  bombs  ceased  :  and  this  was  hailed  as  a  welcome  res- 
pite, thougli  only  of  a  few  weeks  duration  ;  but  the  firing 
of  cannon  balls  into  the  city,  some  of  which  were  red  hot, 
created  a  new  source  of  terror,  and  deprived  several  j)er- 
Bons  of  life. 

James  Stuart  was  still  in  Dublin,  where,  assisted  by  his 
mock  parliament,  he  continued  to  issue  the  most  tyrannical 
and  oppressive  edicts  against  the  Protestants  ol  the  land, 
outlawing  them,  that  his  own  adherents  might  obtain  pos- 
session of  their  estates ;  and  proving  that  their  sole  hope 
must  lie  in  a  desperate  course  of  resistance  to  his  usurpa- 
tion. No  succors  had  been  received  from  King  \\  illiam  : 
while  the  French  fleet,  with  a  reinforcement  of  popish  aux- 
iliaries on  board,  had  gladdened  the  heart  of  James  by  mak- 
ing good  their  entrance  intoBantry  Bay,  and  landing  their 
formidable  freight  in  the  country  which,  it  was  credibly 
reported,  was  to  be  annexed  to  the  dominions  of  the  French 
king,  when  his  troops  should  have  completed  its  subjuga- 
tion. The  Marechal  Conrad  de  Rosen,  a  fierce  and  pitiless 
commander,  headed  this  expedition  :  and  commenced  his 
progress  across  the  island,  from  which  his  object  was  to 
root  out  Protestantism  in  every  form,  and  to  lay  the  nation 
prostrate  before  the  rulers  into  whose  hearts  it  was  put  to 
give  their  dominion  unto  the  papal  antichrist.  It  is  difficult 
to  assign  a  reason  for  the  tardiness  of  the  English  govern- 
ment in  this  emergency  ;  but  it  was  overruled  to  the  better 
instruction  of  the  Protestants  as  to  the  value  of  the  stake  for 
■which  they  contended ;  and  also  to  the  severe  chastisement 


DERRY.  139 

of  that  pride,   self-confidence,   and  disunion  which  so  dis- 
gracefully marred  the  church  of  Christ  among  them. 

During  the  month  of  May,  continual  sallies  took  place 
from  the  gates  of  Derry,  in  which  the  besieged  were  gen- 
erally successful.  Such  was  their  confidence,  that  Walk- 
er in  his  diary  mentions,  under  date,  May  5,  "  This  night 
the  besiegers  drew  a  trench  across  the  Windmill-hill  from 
the  bog  to  the  river,  and  there  began  a  battery  ;  from  that 
they  endeavored  to  annoy  our  walls,  but  they  were  too 
strong  for  the  guns  they  us'd,  and  our  men  were  not  afraid 
to  advise  them  to  save  all  that  labor  and  expense,  that  they 
always  kept  the  gates  open,  and  they  might  use  that  pas- 
sage if  they  pleas'd,  which  was  wider  than  any  breach  they 
could  make  in  the  walls."  This  was  five  months  after  the 
commencement  of  the  contest,  and  strikingly  displays  the 
undaunted  resolution  of  men  who,  what  with  external  as- 
saults and  internal  treachery  and  disappointed  hope,  had 
endured  enough  to  damp  the  ardor  of  minds  sustained  by 
any  thing  less  powerful  than  the  consciousness  of  a  righteous 
cause.  In  the  bulk  of  those  people  there  might  indeed  be 
found  few  instances  of  vital,  personal  religion  ;  but,  collec- 
tively, they  had  by  solemn  public  acts  of  devotion,  com- 
mitted themselves  and  their  cause  into  the  hands  of  the 
Most  High,  abjuring  all  connection  with  the  idolatrous 
power  which  is  most  emphatically  opposed  to  the  sole  and 
absolute  sovereignty  of  Jehovah.  What  was  the  result  1 
"  He  wrought  for  his  name's  sake,"  and  having  made  them, 
in  their  unsupported  constancy,  a  spectacle  to  the  world, 
he  finally  brought  them  out  of  their  distressed  when  in  the 
utmost  extremity,  and  blessed  their-efForts  to  the  establish- 
ment of  that  pure  faith  for  which  they  professijd  to  suffer. 
Alas,  that  so  signal  an  example  should  in  our  day  have  be- 
come powerless  !  that  on  occasions  of  national  perplexity, 
instead  of  seeking  to  that  arm  wherein  our  fathers  hoped, 
and  trusted,  and  found  deliverance,  we  should  embark  our 


140  DERRY. 

safety  in  the  nutshell  of  our  own  strength,   relying  on  a 
worldly,  crooked,  inconsistent,  and  unscrii)tural  policy  for 
that  i^hich  our  perverted  wisdom  can   no  more  secure, 
than  could  our  puny  might  have  acquired  it.     "Do  we 
provoke  the  Lord  to  jealousy  ]  are  we  stronger  than  He  1" 
Neglected  by  their  friends,  and  on  all  sides  pressed  by 
foes,  yet  could  not  the   inhabitants  of  Derry  entertain  a 
thought  of  capitulation  ;  for   not   only  were   the    most 
shameless  acts  ol  treachery  committed, — prisoners  murder- 
ed in  cold  blood,  and  messengers  tired  at  under  a  flag  of 
truce, — by  the  assailants,  but  one  of  the  captives  brought 
into  the  town  after  a  successful  sally,  moved  by  the  gener- 
ous compassion  and  kind  usage  of  the  citizens,  confessed 
to  Governor  Walker  that  the  enemy  were  bound  by  dread- 
ful oaths  to  observe  no  faitii  with  them :  but  on  ■whatsoev- 
er terms  they  might  obtain   possession  of  the   city,  to 
slaughter  indiscriminately,  without  regard  to  age  or  sex, 
whosoever  bore  the  Protestant  name.     Thus,  by  the  mer- 
cy of  God,  their  peril  was  still  made  known  to  them  j  and 
any  degree  of  suffering  preferred  before  delivering  up 
their  helpless  families  to  such  blood-thirsty  fanaticism. 

The  report  of  De  Rosen's  probable  advance,  with  for- 
midable reinforcements,  was  communicated  to  the  besieg- 
ed by  their  enemies,  in  one  of  the  frequent  parleys  that 
took  place.  It  reached  M'Alister's  home,  and  was  vari- 
ously received  by  the  different  inmates. 

"  This  commander,"  said  Ross,  who  brought  the  tid- 
ings, "  is  alike  celebrated  for  skill  and  brutality.  He 
cares  not  about  the  price  of  a  victory  ;  friend  and  foe  may 
perish  together,  providing  another  leaf  is  added  to  his  lau- 
rels, and  his  name  clad  in  additional  terrors.  I  doubt 
whether  he  would  honor  us  with  a  menace,  had  we  not 
made  ourselves  of  some  consequence  by  holding  out  so 
long." 

"  The  tenors  of  his  name,"  observed  the  Lady,  "  will 


DERRY.  141 

not  daunt  us.  No  blast  can  uproot  what  the  Lord  has 
planted  ;  no  gate  of  hell  prevail  where  he  acknowledges 
a  church.  Let  De  Rosen  approach  with  his  foreign  band : 
it  will  but  relieve  us  from  the  pain  of  counting  as  our  foes 
exclusively  those  of  our  own  household." 

"  True  for  you,  my  Lady,"  said  Magrath.  "  Its  my- 
self that'll  serve  again,  if  the  Frenchmen  but  take  a  peep 
at  the  ould  walls." 

"  But,"  asked  Ellen,  whose  increasing  debility  had  ren- 
dered her  almost  helpless,  "  will  they  not  again  throw 
bombs  when  he  arrives  V 

"  You  needn't  doubt  that.  Miss  Ellen,"  answered  Shane. 
"  The  art  of  war  requires  it.  Och,  but  we'll  be  bombard- 
ed to  purpose,  and  set  fire  to,  and  blown  up,  may-be." 

Ellen  shuddered,  and  Basil  remarked,  "  You  have  got  ra- 
ther a  croaking  tune  to-day,  Shane.  Has  De  Rosen  received 
any  commission  more  effectually  to  harm  us  than  those 
who  have  so  long  been  kept  at  bay  1  Does  an  event  that 
will  drive  us  closer  to  our  Refuge  call  for  despondency  1 
Burnt,  and  blown  up  we  should  long  since  have  been,  had 
not  a  shield  been  over  us,  which  France  and  all  her  mar- 
shals cannot  penetrate." 

"  How  like  you  that  rebuke  from  a  man  of  peace,  my 
old  soldier  '."  asked  Bryan,  clapping  Shane  on  the  back. 
"  You'll  get  me  into  some  new  scrapes  by  preaching  cow- 
ardice, after  all  the  trouble  it  has  cost  me  to  retrieve  my 
character." 

The  sprightliness  with  which  this  was  spoken,  Bryan 
had  recently  assumed  to  avoid  the  suspicion  of  those  for 
whom  he  was  suiTering  sore  privations.  Confident  that 
famine  would  soon  show  her  ghastly  face  among  them,  and 
distressed  at  the  thoughtless  profusion  of  which  many 
were  still  guilty,  he,  with  a  few  others,  had  agreed  to  lay 
by  for  their  families  whatsoever  their  own  abstinence  could 
enable  them  to  save,  without  secreting  the  conimon  pro- 
13 


142  DEBRY. 

perty.  To  this  end  they  established  a  mess  ;  and  procur- 
ing the  most  durable  articles,  such  as  salt  meat,  potatoes, 
meal,  cheese,  &c.,  they  barely  satisfit-d  the  cravings  of 
nature,  and  hoarded  the  rest.  The  ellocts  of  this  spare 
diet  were  often  visible  ;  but  wore  little  remarked  where 
all  were  losing  their  bloom,  and  pining  beneath  the  hourly 
distresses  of  the  time  ;  while,  as  if  by  common  agreement, 
every  tone  became  bolder,  and  the  courage  of  every  heart 
assumed  a  character  of  higher  elevation.  Scripture  was 
ransacked,  by  the  various  preachers,  to  furnish  their  flocks 
with  examples  of  holy  daring,  and  pious  endurance. 
Even  the  absurdities  of  the  Apocryphal  books  were  render- 
ed available  by  some,  while  others  with  more  spiritualized 
judgmont  selected  the  messages  to  the  seven  churches  of 
Asia,  applying  the  reproofs  and  encouragements  in  which 
those  exquisite  portions  abound,  to  the  present  circumstan- 
ces of  their  afflicted  community.  At  the  tire  thus  kept 
constantly  burning  on  the  altar,  many  a  torch  was  kin- 
dled, which  had  otherwise  perhaps  remained  in  eternal 
darkness.  And  we,  who  by  our  peaceful  hearths,  look 
back  upon  the  sufferings  of  that  period,  may  live  to  expe- 
rience that  persecution  can  be  made  effectual  to  awake  a 
drowsy  church,  or  to  cement  a  disunited  household  of 
faith,  or  to  compel  the  people  of  God  to  put  away  from 
among  them  the  unholy  leaven,  with  which  false  maxims 
of  interest  and  expediency  have  led  them  to  defile  them- 
selves. 

In  one  of  the  skirmishes  which  took  place  during  the 
month  of  May,  at  a  little  distance  from  the  town,  a  gallant 
officer,  Captain  Cunningham,  having  been  made  prisoner 
by  the  enemy,  and  afterwards  basely  murdered,  his  re- 
mains were  brought  into  Derry,  and  interred  with  great 
solemnity ;  a  strict  fast  being  kept  by  the  members  of  the 
Scottish  and  dissenting  churches,  while  their  respective 
ministers  addressed  them  from  the  pulpit  in  terms  suited  to 


DERRY.  143 

the  affecting  occasion.  A  liberal  collection  for  the  suffer- 
ing poor,  was,  at  the  same  time  made  :  and  the  laudable 
example  was  followed  immediately  by  those  of  the  Estab- 
lished Church.  The  fast  was  more  strictly  kept :  and  no 
where  more  so  than  under  the  roof  of  M'Alister. 

Perceiving  that  Ellen  refused  to  fare  better  than  the  rest, 
Magrath  expressed  his  wish  that  in  her  weak  state  her 
minister  had  given  her  leave  to  eat.  He  was  not  a  little 
surprised  at  being  told  that  their  abstinence  was  altogether 
voluntary,  and  that  no  penalty  would  have  followed  their 
non-observance  of  the  fast.  This  led  to  a  full  discussion  of 
the  subject,  with  Basil  and  the  Lady,  in  which  JMagrath 
evinced  a  deeper  spirit  of  inquiry  than  he  had  ever  before 
displayed.  He  could  not  well  conceive  upon  what  prin- 
ciple the  whole  question  of  merit  was  excluded  from  the 
acts  of  self-denial  and  almsgiving  which  he  saw  practised  ; 
but  his  readiness  to  abide  by  the  decisions  of  God's  word 
occasioned  great  joy  to  his  affectionate  instructors  j  and 
they  hailed  the  dawning  of  such  pure  light  upon  his  soul, 
as  must,  in  its  progressive  brightening,  dispel  every  shade 
of  error.  The  Irish  Scriptures  were  often  in  his  hand  j 
and  Basil  requested  bis  assistance  in  translating  anew  some* 
striking  passages  :  so  that  Magrath  was  becoming  possessed 
of  a  little  hoard  of  manuscripts  similar  to  that  which  his 
grandfather  had  so  dearly  prized. 

But  the  Lady  never  failed  to  point  out  those  peculiar 
doctrines,  and  numerous  declarations  that  brand  the  Ro- 
mish fiith  as  an  anti-christian  delusion.  Malcolm  was 
wont  to  recommend  that  the  word  of  God  should  be  left 
to  acliieve  alone  what  nothing  else  could  effect. 

"  Without  it,  I  admit,"  said  the  Lady  of  M'Alister,  "  that 
no  real  conquest  can  be  gained  over  this  delusion  :  but 
from  that  Word  itself  I  derive  my  authority  for  enforcing 
these  distinctions.  When  our  Lord  commissions  his  ser- 
vants to  go  forth  among  the  Gentile  nations  generally,  the 


144  DERRY. 

injunction  is  to  preach  the  gospel,  to  baptize,  and  to  teach 
them  to  observe  and  do  whatsoever  he  had  commanded* 
To  the  Jews,  in  adJition  to  this,  we  find  a  continual  ap- 
peal made  as  to  tho  acknowled^t^d  predictions  of  the  Old 
Testament  which   they  possesseil  and  reverenced  as  the 
oracles  of  God :  but  when  this  mystery  of  iniquity,  that 
should  spring  up  in  the  latter  times,  is  referred  to,  what 
directions  are  given  1     St.  Paul,  aftor  describing  the  un- 
equivocal signs  of  forbidding  to  marr}',  and  commanding  to 
abstain  from  meats,  adds,  '  If  thou  put  the  brethren  in  re- 
membrance of  xnESE  TniNns,  thou  shall  be  a   good  minis- 
ter of  Jesus  Christ,  nourished  up  in  the  words  of  faith  and 
of  good  doctrine  ;'  a  command  which  surely  brings  a  heavy 
charge  of  omission  against  those  who  neglect  to  point  them 
out.     Again,  in  the  revelation  made   to  St.  John,   where 
this  apostacy  is  most  vividly  described,  we  find  a  voice 
from  heaven  proclaiming,  '  Come  out  of  her,  my  people, 
that  ye  be  not  partakers  of  her  sins,  and  that  ye  receive 
not  of  her  plagues.'     Can  you  assign  to  these,  and  similar 
passages,  any  other  interpretation  than  that  of  an  open, 
distinct,  and  unwavering  testimony  against  the  particular 
abomination  of  this  fearful  per\'erter  of  God's  truth  1" 

Malcolm  assented  to  this  remark,  and  confessed  that  he 
had  not  devoted  any  careful  study  to  that  branch  of  the 
sacred  writings  wliich  more  immediately  related  to  the 
papal  error  :  he  had  rather  accustomed  himself  to  spiritual- 
ize every  part  of  God's  word  for  the  edification  of  his  own 
soul,  and  the  nourishment  of  his  flock. 

"Aye,-'  replied  the  Lady,  "ani  behold  in  the  surround- 
ing horrors  the  fruits  of  that  unauthorized  procedure,  too 
general  among  the  pastors  of  the  churches.  The  Lord  has 
meetly  and  equally  guarded  every  avenue  to  his  fold,  pre- 
senting against  each  assailant  such  bulwarks  as  his  infinite 
wisdom,  and  foreknowledge  saw  fit.  But  ye,  too  often,  in 
-the  exercise  of  a  limited  vision,  displace  the  goodly  ar- 


DERRY. 


146 


rangement,  and  in  order  to  heap  defences  in  one  point, 
leave  many  a  gap  whereat  the  wolf  enters,  and  ravages  at 
his  pleasure." 

"  Is  it  not,"  asked  Basil,  "  as  though  we  should  take 
three  of  the  four  city  gates  from  their  hinges  to  strengthen 
tlie  other,  when  all  quarters  are  equally  assailed  V 

*'  I  must  not  dispute  the  point,"  replied  Malcolm,  smil- 
ing. "  May  the  Lord  abundantly  bless  your  zealous  en- 
deavors,  and  give  you  a  harvest  of  many  souls!" 

"  Amen  !"  ejaculated  the  Lady  of  M'Alister  j  "and  see 
that  you  withhold  not  your  own  hand  from  the  work." 

But  in  despite  of  past  experience,  in  the  face  of  those 
provisions  which  the  Reformers  established,  and  in  an  un- 
accountable indifference  to  many  plain  comrnands  of  God 
the  ministers  of  our  Protestant  churches  have  withheld — 
do  withhold  their  hands,  with  very  few  exceptions  :  and 
the  wolf  enters,  bearing  away  whole  flocks,  while  scarcely 
an  attempt  has  been  made  to  rescue  from  his  fangs  a  single 
victim,  until  within  so  short  a  space  of  time  that  our  vouth 
can  remember  its  first  date.  And  with  what  epithets  have 
they  been  hailed,  who  venture  to  claim  for  the  outcasts  of 
Israel,  and  the  dispersed  of  Judah,  their  appointed  portion 
from  the  Lord's  inexhaustible  stores  ]  a  portion  lent  indeed 
to  the  Gentile  church  for  spiritual  improvement,  and  that 
by  apostolical  authority,  but  as  unalienable  from  the  Jew 
in  its  actual  literal  import,  as  is  the  land  which  God  gave 
to  Abraham  and  his  seed  for  ever  ;  but  which  during  the 
period  assigned  for  scattering  the  holy  people,  has  likewise 
been  permitted  to  remain  in  Gentile  hands.  Or  has  a  less 
abundant  share  of  harsh  reproof  fallen  to  the  lot  of  those 
who,  under  the  title  of  The  Reformation  Society,  have 
gone  forth,  bearing  their  divinely  commissioned  testimony 
against  the  mother  of  harlots  and  abominations  of  the  earth  1 
The  men  of  Derry,  in  1689,  doubtless  reckoned  that  suc- 
ceeding generations  would  reap  the  fruits  of  their  heroic 
13* 


146  D£RBY. 

endurance,  in  the  wide  extension  of  gospel  tnith :  and  thai 
from  their  little  citadel  should  spread  broader  light  over 
their  beloved  and  suflTi'ring  country,  even  through  the  ef- 
fort to  extinguish  what  she  yet  jiossessed.  Oh  !  that  there 
had  been  such  an  heart  in  Gotl's  people  as  should  have  led 
them  to  verify  these  hopes,  rightly  dividing  the  word  of 
truth  ;  and  conquering  with  the  sword  of  the  Spirit  the 
fathers  of  those,  who,  h.'ft  in  the  bondage  of  s[)iritual  Egypt 
through  such  cruel  neglect,  now  array  themselves  in  wrath- 
ful hostility  against  our  name  and  nation,  prepared  to  com- 
bat for  the  privilege  of  perpetual  darkness  in  the  dungeons 
of  papal  delusion  ! 


CHAPTER  X 


The  month  of  May  had  passed  without  any  greater  an> 
noyance  from  the  enemy  than  that  of  the  frequent  can- 
nonading, which  amongst  other  unpleasant  effects,  so  pol- 
luted the  water  of  the  city,  that  many  hazarded,  and  some 
lost  their  lives  in  the  attempt  to  obtain  a  purer  beverage 
from  without  the  gates.  This  was  a  dreadful  hardship, 
bearing,  particularly,  on  the  sick,  on  delicate  women,  and 
children.  Various  diseases  began  to  spread  among  them, 
heightened  by  the  heat  of  summer,  and  the  unwholesome 
food  to  which  they  were  well  nigh  confined.  But  on  the 
twenty-ninth  of  the  month  a  general  panic  was  spread 
throughout  the  numerous  families,  by  an  order  that  every 
houses  hould  be  provided  with  supplies  of  water ;  a  heavy 
bombardment  being  expected  during  the  night,  of  which 
the  probable  effect  would  be  to  ignite  the  town  in  every 
quarter. 

All  was  confusion ;  and  among  other  precautions  the 
gunpowder  hitherto  lodged  in  the  church,  was  removed 
into  places  of  great  security.  Wells,  long  since  dried  up, 
were  selected  to  receive  it ;  and  covered  with  every  article 
best  calculated  to  repel  the  dangerous  element.  In  this 
service  Magrath  made  himself  so  useful,  that  Colonel 
Murray  particularly  noticed  his  activity,  and  the  good 
sense  that  marked  his  frequent  suggestions  j  while  Alder- 


148  DERBY. 

man  Crowe  observed  to  his  factotum  that  it  argued  little 
short  of  madness  in  the;  leadinj^  men  to  follow  the  counsel 
of  an  acknowledged  papist  in  a  matter  of  such  importance. 

The  wily  follower  of  this  zealot  had  good  cause  to  know 
that  Magrath  was  sincere  ;  since  he  had  himself  such  fre- 
quent comiiKinication  witti  the  enemy  as  enabled  him  to 
identify  every  other  traitor  within  the  walls:  he  was  one 
of  those  purchasable  characters  who  may  always  he  relied 
on  by  the  highest  bidder,  and  a  chief  agent  of  Tyrconnel's 
retained  him  at  a  handsome  price.  He  had  ascertained 
many  particulars  relating  to  Magrath  ;  and  was  pursuing 
measures  to  rid  the  garrison  of  one  so  likely  to  become  a 
valuable  helper  in  the  struggle. 

The  bombardment  did  not  take  place  ;  but  on  the  first  of 
June  a  few  shells  were  thrown  during  the  night,  and  on 
the  morrow  an  incessant  fire  was  poured  in  from  the  ene- 
my's guns;  they  had,  in  the  course  of  the  few  pP'ceding 
days,  constructed  no  less  than  sixteen  forts,  on  which 
to  mount  these  engines  of  destruction.  It  was  now  that 
Magrath,  for  the  tirst  time  took  part  in  oflensive  prepara- 
tions ;  for  he  assisted  to  cast  leaden  balis,  mounting  the 
roofs  of  houses  with  cool  intrepidity  to  strip  the  metal  from 
them.  But  the  following  day  was  marked  by  a  shower  of 
bombs,  which  inllicted  greater  damage  than  had  yet  been 
sustained  ;  and  a  fierce  assault  from  the  besiegers  brought 
the  combat  to  the  very  walls  of  the  town. 

"  This  is  terrible,"  said  Ellen,  as  the  chairs  on  which 
she  lay  rocked  with  the  concussion ;  but  her  look  was 
calm,  and  her  fortitude  unshaken. 

"  Isn't  it  a  blessed  thing  that  they  were  taken  away  from 
all  this  evil  ("  whispered  Shane  to  Basil. 

The  old  man  had,  for  some  time  past,  given  his  atten- 
tion to  the  word  of  God,  as  continually  spoken  in  his  hear- 
ing by  Basil.     Conveyed  in  his  native  tongue,  Scripture 


DERKY.  149 

truths  came  home  to  his  understanding,  with  a  plainness 
of  intelligibility  never  before  felt.  He  did  not  often  ask 
to  be  indulged  in  this  way,  but  a  sort  of  restlessness  frequently 
came  over  him,  which  yielded  to  nothing  else  ;  and  when 
once  that  sound  reached  his  ear,  it  subsided  into  pleased 
attention.  Magrath  was  the  first  to  notice  this  ;  and  struck 
with  the  similarity  of  his  case  to  that  of  old  Dennis,  he 
would  seat  himself  on  the  low  stool,  and  read  from  his 
manuscripts,  until,  as  he  said,  he  fancied  himself  a  gossoon 
again.  It  was  a  feast  indeed  to  the  Lady  of  M'Alister, 
when,  employed  at  her  knotting,  she  watched  and  prayed 
over  the  interesting  scene  :  and  poor  Ellen,  with  eyes  half- 
closed  in  delighted  attention,  followed  the  language,  to  her 
perfectly  intelligible.  Basil  seemed  engaged  with  his 
own  book,  occasionally  introducing  a  remark,  as  passages 
of  particular  applicability  occurred  in  Magrath's  reading  : 
and  amid  the  bitter  trials  of  that  calamitous  season,  the 
voice  of  praise  was  incessantly  called  forth  on  behalf  not 
only  of  Magrath  but  of  Shane. 

On  this  dreadful  day,  however,  the  former  was  absent 
with  Bryan,  and  every  explosion  spoke  in  audible  menace 
concerning  those  abroad. 

"I  have  been  in  many  perils,"  remarked  Basil ;  "But 
such  a  roar  of  artillery,  such  crashes,  and  bursts,  I  never 
heard.  Oh,  it  is  a  happy  privilege  to  know  that  the  Lord 
who  dwelleth  on  high  is  mightier  than  all  this  noise  ;  and 
that  his  thunders  are  not  armed  against  our  souls,  nor  will 
his  terrors  make  us  afraid." 

"  My  country,  my  poor  Ireland  !"  said  Ellen,  "  will  she 
never  leave  off  thus  to  wound  herself  ?" 

"Alas  for  Erin  !"  responded  the  Lady,  "her  history  is 
but  a  tale  of  horrors  such  as  these." 

Basil  was  about  to  speak,  but  a  tremendous  noise,  ac- 
companied by  a  shock  that  made  everv  pane  to  rattle  in 
the  casement,   told  that  a  bomb  had  exploded  near  the 


160  DERhY. 

house.  Groans  and  shrieks  fallowed,  and  Ellen,  her 
countenance  convulsi'd  with  anj^uish,  t-xciaiined,  "O 
grandmother,  when  will  it  end  !  when  t;hall  I  git  free  1" 

"  Hush,  my  child  :  tarry  the  Lord's  leisure.     Patience 
must  have  her  p-'rfect  work,  but  rest  is  near." 

Shouts  and  screams,  more  appalling  than  before,  were 
now  heard  :  explosions  re-echoed  in  various  directions,  and 
the  sulphureous  clouds  of  dense  smoke  drifted  pa^t,  until 
the  girls  lungs  were  oppressed  almost  to  sullbcation. 
Gently  raised  by  her  aged  attendants,  she  struggled  long 
under  the  paroxysms  of  coughing ;  and  then  sank  down, 
sobbing  for  breath,  and  presenting  such  a  spectacle  of 
hopeless  sufTiTing,  that  Shane  averted  his  eyes,  groaning 
bitterly,  while  the  others  looked  on  and  wept. 

But  instead  of  dispersing  as  usual,  the  smoke  increased 
so  fast  as  to  suggest  an  apprehension  of  the  city  having 
taken  fire.  Another  thundering  explosion  shook  the 
house,  and  several  panes  of  glass  fell  from  the  window. 
Rushing  through  the  aperture,  the  choking  fumes  now 
whirled  in  eddies  round  the  apartment,  and  Ellen's  infirm 
supporters  were  themselves  beginning  to  need  support, 
when  the  door  was  hastily  opened  and  closed  again  ;  and 
Bryan,  catching  up  Ellen  from  her  couch,  bore  her  rapidly 
into  an  inner  room,  returning  for  the  Lady,  whom  he 
dragged  rather  than  led,  to  the  same  place,  giving  no 
heed  to  her  questions  ;  reaching  again  the  outer  apartment, 
he  bolted  the  door  after  him.  Then  clasping  his  hands  on 
his  forehead,  he  said,  "  There  are  times  when  I  f^el  as  if 
on  the  very  verge  of  insanity.  But  a  moment  since,  I 
looked  with  tearless  and  reckless  eye  on  the  mangled  bodies 
of  friends  long  endeared — now,  the  bare  recollection  mad- 
dens me." 

"  Yet  be  calm.  Think  of  the  Christian's  perfect  peace." 

"  I  do but,  I  had  forgotten — one  of  our  poor  soldier 

inmates  has  been  desperately  wounded :  they  are  bearing 


DERRY.  151 

him  hither — for  that  cause  I  bolted  the  door.     Can  you 
endure  the  sight  V 

"  Aye,  and  play  the  leech  too,  if  needful :  I  am  inured 
to  all." 

The  party  now  arrived,  bearing  the  poor  soldier,  whose 
leg  was  completely  shattered.  They  carried  him  up  to 
his  apartment,  followed  by  Basil,  while  Shane  strewed 
ashes  over  the  crimsoned  floor,  and  Bryan  went  to  break 
the  matter  to  the  females. 

"  It  is  all  well,  my  love,"  said  the  Lady  ;  "  we  will  at- 
tend him,  with  every  care."     Ellen  asked  for  Magrath. 

"  When  I  last  saw  him  he  was  communicating  some- 
thing to  Walker.  There  has  been  dreadful  work,  but  the 
assault  is  repelled,  chiefly  through  the  intrepidity  of 
females." 

"  Oh  Bryan,  are  you  not  thankful  concerning  our  mo- 
ther and  Letitia  V 

"  I  am,  I  am.  From  the  church  battery  I  looked  down, 
and  rejoiced  over  their  quiet  resting-place.  It  is  all  well, 
Ellen  ;  and  as  to  us,  the  Lord  fights  for  his  persecuted 
church.  There  is  some  invisible  wall  of  fire  around  us." 
"  It  is  even  so,"  rejoined  the  Lady,  with  a  look  of  tri- 
umph ;  "  horses  and  chariots  of  fire  surround  us,  and  we 
are  impregnable  in  the  bulwark  of  prayer.  Come,  kneel ; 
for  his  ear  is  ever  open,  and  his  eye  beholds,  while  his 
shield  defends  us."  She  poured  forth  a  strain  of  interces- 
soiy  supplication  for  her  countr}- ;  and  in  glowing  faith 
commended  the  cause  of  his  church  to  their  glorious 
Head. 

During  the  whole  of  the  week,  havoc  and  destruction 
were  carried  into  the  city  :  not  satisfied  with  execution 
already  done,  their  besiegers  increased  the  size  of  the 
bombs,  striking  down  houses,  and  killing  numbers  of  all 
ranks  and  classes.  Salted  horseflesh  was  almost  the  only 
meat  now  discoverable,  and  of  this  they  had  put  by  a  tole- 


152  DERRY, 

rablc  store.  Oa  the  Friday  evening  Magrath  entered,  his 
countenance  clouded  in  an  unusual  degree,  and  seated 
himself  as  if  scarcely  conscious  where  he  was. 

"  What's  come  over  the  boy  1  '  askod  Shane,  anxiously. 

He  received  no  answer;  but  on  a  similar  question  from 
Hryan,  Magrath  rt  plied  that  he  must  leave  the  city  before 
dawn,  adding  that  he  hoped  to  return  in  two  days.  Re- 
monsti-anccs  and  entreaties  ensued,  wliich  at  last  compelled 
him  to  say  that  l;e  had  been  summoned  by  his  j)riest  to 
confession,  preparatory  to  the  festival  of  St.  Columbkill. 

"Confession!"  ejaculated  Bryan;  "surely,  Magrath, 
you  are  not  about  to  bt-tray  the  confidence  so  freely  re- 
posed in  you." 

"Nothing,  your  honor,  barring  what  my  clergy  can  re- 
quire." 

"  And  that  is  just  every  tiling !  Bt-sides,  I  could  not 
believe  you  to  be  still  under  this  irrational  thraldom." 

"  Is  it  that  I  ever  turned  my  religion,  Sir  V 

"  I  don't  say  so,  but in  short,  it  perplexes  as  much 

as  it  grieves  me." 

Magrath  handed  a  paper  to  Ba^il,  requesting  him  to  de- 
clare its  contents  aloud.  It  was  in  Irish,  and  required  him 
to  repair  to  the  '  station  '  at  Culmore,  lor  the  purpose  of 
confessing,  and  hearing  mass. 

"  Culmore  !  Really,  Magrath,  this  is  madness  !  Why, 
the  enemy  are  in  the  greatest  force  there." 

"  May  be  so ;  but  it  isn't  for  me  to  dispute  my  clergy's 
orders." 

"  Ahone !"  said  Shane,  "  and  what  confession  would 
you  need,  when  the  Savior  himself  is  ready  to  hear  and 
forgive  you  1" 

"  True  and  he  is  ;  but  then  didn't  himself  say,  '  Hear 
the  church  V  " 

This  led  to  an  argument,  in  which  Bryan,  the  Lady, 
and  Basil  took  part.     Magrath  heard  them  patiently,  but 


DERRY.  153 

maintained  that,  as  a  member  of  the  church,  he  was  bound 
to  obey  his  priests.  He  added,  that  the  besieged  would 
probably  enjoy  a  respite  on  Sunday,  as  it  was  to  be  kept 
in  the  Irish  army. 

Before  separating  for  the  night,  the  Lady  addressed  him 
in  a  solemn  tone.  "  Mark  me,  Larry  Magrath,  if  you 
bow  the  knee  at  that  confessional,  invoking  departed  saints 
to  hear  and  intercede,  you  reject  the  sole  ^Mediator  who 
stands  between  you  and  an  offended  God.  If  you  worship 
the  wafer,  you  make  the  cross  of  Christ  of  none  effect, 
owning  another  sacrifice  than  that  which  God  appointed, 
and  committing  likewise  the  deadly  sin  of  idolatry.  Trifle 
not  with  your  salvation,  for  you  totter  on  the  brink  of 
eternal  flames.  Take  with  you  this  warning,  from  one 
who  has  burst  the  yoke,  and  knows  it  to  be  a  link  to  per- 
dition." Ellen,  with  tears,  implored  him  to  the  same 
effect ;  and  Basil  advanced  a  host  of  scripture  evidences 
against  his  purposed  deed.  The  poor  fellow,  was,  how- 
ever, inflexible,  though  evidently  distressed  ;  and  before 
day-break  he  was  past  the  gates,  under  a  written  protection 
from  General  Hamilton,  which  had  been  enclosed  in  the 
priest's  letter. 

The  scanty  fare  of  the  breakfast  table  was  rendered  un- 
palatable to  those  v.'ho  surrounded  it,  not  so  much  by  the 
tremendous  sounds  that  deafened  them,  as  by  the  dreary 
feeling  which  Magrath's  absence  produced.  The  wounded 
soldier  had  died  in  the  night,  and  Basil,  who  had  assidu- 
ously attended  him,  seemed  exhausted  by  fatigue.  Shane 
appeared  lost  in  painful  ruminations  ;  and  the  Lady  her- 
self was  unusually  cast  down.  Ellen  wept,  as  Bryan  pre- 
pared to  depart,  and  augured  that  they  would  lose  him 
too  ;  but  her  brother  checked  the  murmuring  expression, 
reminding  her  that  her  doubts  of  his  continued  presei-va- 
tion  would  be  the  worst  omen  of  their  own  fulfilment. 
He  urged  them  to  be  much  in  prayer  for  Magrath,  as  well 
U 


154  DEBRY. 

as  for  himself:  and  left  the  dwelling  with  a  heavy  heart  } 
for  in  Magrath  he  had  lost  the  voice  which  always  spoke 
some  cheoring  word  as  they  crossed  the  threshhold. 

Colonel  ^lurray  was  one  of  the  first  persons  whom  he 
met,  and  he  instantly  inquired  where  Bryan  had  left  his 
shadow.  Obtaining  a  promise  of  secrecy,  M'Alister  ac- 
quainted him  with  the  fact,  at  which  the  Colonel  express- 
ed no  small  annoyance,  hinting  that  he  questioned  how  far 
they  were  justified  in  permitting  him  to  depart. 

"  Do  you  doubt  his  fidelity  '."  asked  Bryan. 

"  Why,  I  cannot  if  I  would  ;  but  the  matter  is  one  of  a 
j)erplexing  character.  JSo  many  desertions  take  place, 
that,  in  fact,  we  cannot  hope  to  conceal  any  thing  ;  but  i 
felt  a  sort  of  regard  for  that  fellow,  which  renders  the  pos- 
sibility ol  his  treachery  quite  painful."' 

As  they  approached  the  walls,  Alderman  Crowe  came 
bustling  up,  and  accosted  Brj-an,  "  So,  Mr.  M'Alister,  your 
trusty  follower  has  turned  traitor,  and  deserted  to  the 
enemy.'' 

"  Indeed !"  said  the  Colonel,  "  how  is  that  V  giving 
Bryan  a  sign  to  be  silent. 

"  Why,  111  tell  you  now,  since  it's  all  out.  You  know 
I  have  an  attached  servant,  who  changed  his  religion  en- 
tirely out  of  personal  regard  for  me,  and  therefore  must  be 
sincere.  He  has  kept  an  eye  on  this  famous  gentleman 
some  time  past ;  and  last  night  informed  me  that  he  was 
going  to  desert,  having  all  along  maintained  a  communi- 
cation with  the  enemy.  This  morning  I  hear  that  he 
passed  the  Ferry-gate,  and  was  received  with  open  arms 
by  his  fellow-scoundrels  outside." 

"  Well — he  is  not  the  first  who  has  done  so." 

'•  I  hope  he  may  be  the  last  ;  but  don't  notice  what  I 
have  told  you.  In  fact,  Smith  desired  me  to  say  nothing 
until  I  should  hear  it  from  other  quarters.  He  does  not 
like  to  claim  the  reward  which  his  ow^n  fidelity  merits." 


DERRY.  155 

"  He  shall  get  it  though,"  said  the  Colonel,  as  soon  as 
the  alderman  was  out  of  hearing.  "  Of  the  two,  I'd  far 
sooner  suspect  his  convert  than  your  stout-hearted  papist. 
Keep  Smith  in  view,  if  you  can,  M'Alister  ;  I  must  away 
to  the  guard-house.  You  see  what  a  peppering  the  rascals 
are  disposed  to  give  us  to  day." 

Perfectly  sure  that  Magrath  was  the  victim  of  some 
treacherous  stratagem,  Brj'an  at  once  bent  his  steps  to  Al- 
derman Crowe's  house  ;  and  on  the  door  being  opened  by 
Smith,  asked  first  if  all  was  well  within  ;  and  then,  wheth- 
er he  had  seen  or  heard  any  thing  of  his  man,  Magrath. 

"  Nothing,  Sir :  sure  I  hav'nt  been  outside  to-day.  The 
last  I  saw  of  Magrath,  he  was  walking  past  with  you  yes- 
terday.    I  hope  no  harm's  come  over  the  honest  lad." 

Bryan  turned  away,  and  seeking  out  Ross,  told  him  all 
that  had  occurred.  He  was  not  a  little  gratified  to  find 
his  impetuous  friend  as  perfectly  convinced  of  Magrath's 
integrity,  and  Smith's  perfidy,  as  himself;  but  how  to 
make  their  conviction  available,  in  the  dreadful  state  of  the 
fown,  was  a  difficulty  which  they  could  not  surmount. 
"  Let  us  to  the  church  battery,"  said  Ross,  "  and  take  a 
look  around  us." 

They  ascended  the  cathedral  roof;  and  surveyed  the 
sickening  prospect.  The  numerous  forts,  entrenchments, 
batteries,  and  works  of  every  description  that  had  com- 
pleted the  investment,  were  occasionally  obscured,  as  the 
mortars  rolled  forth  their  clouds  of  smoke,  each  sending 
into  the  city  its  messenger  of  destruction.  Lough  Foyle 
rolled  its  broad  stream  tranquilly  past,  unless  when  a  shot 
ploughed  the  surface,  or  sank  with  an  echoing  plash  into 
the  tide.  Towards  its  mouth  many  a  longing  look  had 
been  cast,  in  fond  anticipation  of  coming  succors:  and 
some,  when  their  hearts  failed  them,  were  wont  to  mount 
the  walls,  and  gaze  in  that  direction,  until  the  vision  of 
hope  pictured  an  approaching  sail,  and  imagination  filled 


156  DERRY. 

up  the  outline.  But  now,  in  addition  to  the  accumulated 
works  on  either  side,  the  enemy  were  beginning  to  stretch 
a  boom  across  the  river ;  and  thus  ])resentod  such  obstacles 
to  the  progress  of  a  lloct,  as  tended  to  cliill  tht;  most  san- 
guine expectant :  and  when  the  eye,  withdrawn  from  this 
quarter,  fell  on  the  streets  below,  a  spectacle  of  misery 
presented  itself,  ditficult  to  conceive  and  impossible  to  de- 
scribe. 

At  this  time  the  mortality  was  such,  that  the  burials 
averaged  thirty  in  a  day  ;  so  that  the  streets  presented  a 
succession  of  funerals,  conducted  in  trembling  haste,  while 
the  frequent  bombs  tore  up  the  neighboring  pavement,  and 
cast  it  among  the  attendants.  Scarcely  was  more  than  the 
surface  of  the  burying  ground  disturbed,  to  furnish  a  shal- 
low grave  for  several  dead  bodies  togetber :  and  often  was 
some  mourner  reached  by  a  fatal  ])all,  while  returning 
from  his  sorrowful  task.  Even  as  Bryan  and  Ross  looked 
down  from  their  elevation,  a  bomb  struck  the  house  of  a 
gentleman,  driving  out  from  the  wall  a  ponderous  stone, 
which,  falling  on  a  man  near  the  Ship-quav  brisl;  >n,  dash 
ed  his  head  to  atoms. 

The  fort,  or  castle  of  Culmore,  situate  on  a  point  of  land 
which  projected  considerably  into  the  river,  at  a  short  dis- 
tance, was  an  object  of  particular  interest  to  the  two 
friends.  It  formed  the  strongest  of  the  enemy's  positions 
of  annoyance,  in  case  of  any  approach  from  the  harbor,  and 
W'as  well  garrisoned.  But  beyond  the  association  of  Ma- 
grath's  image  with  its  distant  outline,  it  presented  nothing 
to  their  view :  and  in  melancholy  silence  they  quitted  the 
spot,  to  commune  with  those  who  thronged  the  Diamond ; 
to  assist  in  deliberation  on  the  important  subject  of  hus- 
banding provisions,  and  the  many  other  anxious  cares  that 
harassed  the  public  mind. 

Magrath's  augury  that  the  Sunday  would  afford  a  respite 
from  bombardment  was  fulfilled.     Not  a  shell  nor  a  ball 


DERRY.  157 

was  fired  on  that  day  ;  the  Irish  camp  being  engrossed  in 
paying  those  honors  to  St.  Columbkill  which  they  had 
never  once  afforded  to  the  Lord  of  the  Sabbath,  during  the 
protracted  siege.  Advantage  was  taken  of  this  cessation 
by  many  whom  timidity  had  deterred  from  venturing 
abroad  ;  and  the  Church  was  thronged  at  its  various  sen'ices, 
by  a  crowd  of  sickly  objects,  whose  squalid  and  emaciated 
appearance  contrasted  most  strangely  with  the  words  of 
hope  and  fortitude  to  which  they  gave  utterance.  J\lany 
with  tearless  eyes  looked  on  the  graves  of  their  nearest  and 
dearest  connections  ;  while  others  in  greater  emotion,  ut- 
tered ejaculations  of  resignation  to  the  divine  will,  blessing 
the  Lord  for  what  he  had  done,  and  declaring  that  they 
deemed  no  sacrifice  too  great  for  a  cause  so  holy.  Ellen 
was  wheeled  in  a  low  chair  to  the  cathedral,  her  grand- 
mother, supported  by  Bryan,  walking  on  one  side,  Basil  on 
the  other ;  and  Shane,  with  trembling  hand,  essaying  to 
steady  the  hinder  part  of  the  vehicle,  which  rather  assisted 
his  steps.  An  expression  of  heavenly  peace  was  upon  her 
pale  fair  countenance,  and  though  a  teai*  swelled  when  she 
passed  her  mother's  grave,  a  smile  of  indescribable  sweet- 
ness illumined  every  feature,  as,  looking  up  to  Bryan,  she 
softly  said,  "  I  hope  they  will  have  room  beside  it." 

At  the  door,  a  number  of  coffins  were  deposited  during 
the  service,  and  the  departing  congregation  were  constrain- 
ed to  pass  between  two  files  of  them,  awaiting  a  hasty  in- 
terment. One  very  plain  box,  over  which  was  thrown  a 
black  shawl,  attracted  Bryan's  view  :  for  the  mother  of 
Patrick,  with  little  Thady  in  her  hand,  stood  behind  it. 
She  curtsied  as  she  caught  his  eye  ;  and  with  unruffled  se- 
renity glanced  first  at  the  boy,  and  then  at  the  cofiin,  in- 
dicating that  her  other  child  was  there. 

"  And  is  it  so  ?"  asked  Bryan,  involuntarily  pausing  on 
his  path. 

"  She  was  so  happy  !"  answered  the  mother,  raising  her 
U* 


158  DERRY. 

eyes  to  heaven  ;  while  tlie  deep  hollow  of  her  cheek,  the 
sunken  eye,  and  sallow  hue  bespoke  her  also  a  candidate 
for  speedy  admission  to  the  mansions  of  peace.  Thady  re- 
tained all  iiis  beauty,  blooming  like  a  solitary  flower  in  the 
midst  of  every  imaginable  species  of  desolation. 

"  Ah  !  the  cause  upholds  her  wonderfully,"  said  a  stand- 
er-by. 

"  The  cause  of  the  cross,"  rejoined  the  siiflerer,  "  and 
the  cross  in  the  cause,  are  precious." 

The  crowded  coffins,  the  open  graves,  the  church  win- 
dows shattered  by  balls,  together  with  the  wretched  aspect 
of  the  living  spectres,  all  arrayed  in  the  gorntous  beams  ol 
a  dazzling  summer's  sun,  presented  a  wild  and  ghastly  in- 
congruity, over  which  the  holy  enthusiasm  of  the  hour 
threw  a  character  of  such  awful  interest,  that  many  linger- 
ed and  looked,  as  if  to  impress  upon  their  minds  a  lasting 
recollection  of  the  unearthly  scene.  Among  these  was 
Colonel  Murray,  who,  as  Walker  in  full  canonicals  took 
his  station  in  the  door  way,  approached  M'Alistcr,  and  re. 
4juested  to  be  presented  to  his  venerable  parent,  to  whom 
ho  immediately  tendered  his  arm,  addressing  her  with  a 
suavity  of  manner  peculiarly  his  own. 

"  It  is  a  sad,  and  yet  a  glorious  spectacle,  which  those 
who  survive  will  labor  to  declare  to  their  children's  chil- 
dren, as  a  holy  incentive  to  like  fidelity." 

*'  And  as  a  lesson  of  confiding  faith,"  added  the  Lady, 
*'  that  hearing  what  the  liord  has  done  for  us,  they  may 
feel  the  blessedness  of  saying,  '  This  God  is  our  God,  for 
ever  and  ever.'  " 

"  I  trust  so,"  said  Murray :  then  added,  "  no  tidings  of 
poor  IMagrath." 

"  He  is  in  the  Lord's  hand,"  responded  she  :  "  may  he 
receive  grace  to  resist  every  temptation  !' 

"I  have  taken  precautions  in  a  quiet  way,  that  no  hin- 
drance should  be  given  to  his  re-admission  :  but  suspended 


DERRY.  159 

as  we  all  are  by  a  mere  cobweb  over  the  abyss  of  eternity, 
a  single  life  is  perhaps  too  little  recked  of." 

"  Yet  each  single  life,  Colonel  INIurray,  involves  the 
doom  of  an  immortal  soul ;  and  what  of  equal  value  does 
this  material  world  contain  V 

Murray  took  her  hand  and  answered,  "  At  this  spot  I 
must  reluctantly  leave  you  ;  but  to  your  query  I  reply,  that 
a  single  soul  is  beyond  all  price  ;  and  while  your  faithful 
prayers  nerve  our  arms  in  battle,  forget  not  to  supplicate 
that  those  who  fall  may  find  mercy  through  the  blood  of 
the  Redeemer."  Then  turning  to  Ellen,  he  bent  over  her 
little  carriage,  and  said,  with  strong  feeling,  "  Be  of  good 
cheer,  dearest  young  lady :  true  hearts  and  firm  hands  are 
the  walls  that  hem  you  in  :  and  the  Most  High  will  not  for- 
sake his  children." 

"  May  you  be  numbered  among  them  !"  was  the  secret 
prayer  of  each  as  he  departed. 

The  family  sat  up  late,  indulging  a  hope  that  Magrath 
might  return  :  but  in  vain.  He  formed  the  subject  of  their 
discourse,  and  of  their  supplications  ;  and  unwillingly  they 
bade  good  night  and  parted ;  yet  thankful  for  the  day's 
unwonted  repose. 

The  ibllowing  morning  witnessed  a  renewal  of  the  bom- 
bardment and  cannonade :  a  new  scene  of  horror  was  also 
exhibited;  for  the  dead  so  lightly  interred,  were  rent  from 
their  graves  b}'  the  bursting  of  large  shells.  This  proved 
to  many  fond  survivors  a  more  heart-rending  visitation  than 
all  their  personal  afflictions,  outraging,  as  it  did,  one  of  the 
strongest  feelings  of  domestic  love.  But  no  trial  seemed 
to  be  wanting  in  this  season  of  fiery  tribulation.  Magrath's 
non-appearance  increased  the  despondency  of  his  friends  : 
and  Ross  kept  a  strict  watch  over  the  mansion  of  Alder- 
man Crowe,  in  the  vague  hope  of  eliciting  something  from 
Smith :  but  to  no  purpose.  On  the  following  day,  Ross 
himself  was  not  to  be  found,  nor  could  Bryan  gain  any 
tidings  of  him. 


160  DERRY. 

At  the  old  Lady's  suggestion,  Basil  had  obtained  per- 
mission to  visit  the  prisoners,  and  make  an  attempt  to  read 
the  Irish  Scriptures  to  them.  In  this  he  was  successful 
beyond  his  hope  ;  for  although  many  rejected  with  sul- 
len scorn,  and  some  with  abusive  insolence,  his  proposal, 
yet,  when  he  conmienced,  on  tlie  slender  encouragement 
which  a  few  afforded,  such  was  the  power  of  their  ver- 
nacular tongue,  that  scarcely  one  refused  to  listen.  Many 
were  sensibly  affected  j  and  as  he  chose  the  most  simple 
portions,  chiefly  the  recital  of  the  Lord's  miracle s,  teach- 
ing, and  sutl'erings,  their  interest  was  engaged,  their  preju- 
dices disarmed,  and  not  a  lew  repaid  with  warm  thanks  his 
kindness  in  cheering  their  captivity.  Shane  accompanied 
him  once  or  twice  ;  and  his  report,  divested  as  it  was  of 
every  acrimonious  expression  concerning  those  whom  he 
before  deemed  it  meritorious  to  revile,  was  doubly  wel- 
come to  his  friends. 

Weary,  disheartened,  and  indisposed,  Bryan  stretched 
himself  on  some  chairs  in  the  evening  of  that  day,  listen- 
ins:  to  a  conversation  between  Shane  and  Basil,  and  se- 
cretly  wishing  that  he  was  as  sure  of  a  speedy  removal  to 
the  unseen  world  as  their  advanced  years  rendered  them. 
Ellen  dozed  ;  and  the  Lady  was  engrossed  with  her  Bible. 
Frequent  explosions  shook  the  house  ;  but  they  were  now 
of  too  common  occurrence  to  be  much  regarded.  The 
door  was  flung  open,  and  Ross  entered,  with  a  shout  of 
joy,  which  was  echoed,  in  some  wise  by  each  of  the  party, 
when  they  discovered  that  he  led  Magrath,  evidently 
wounded,  and  extremely  weak :  but  staggering  eagerly 
towards  Bryan,  who  had  started  up,  and  upon  whose  arms 
he  threw  his  own  for  support,  while  he  exclaimed,  "  Praise 
to  God— the  fleet  !  the  fleet  !" 

"  Oh  !  blessed  sound  !"  cried  the  Lady,  as  she  raised 
her  clasped  hands,  "  and  blessed  sight  to  behold  our  poor 
brother  once  more." 


DERRY.  161 

"  Magrath — my  dear  fellow  !"  exclaimed  Bryan,  al- 
most Avild  with  joy,  while  Ross  said,  "  The  fleet  is  in  the 
Lough,  though  still  far  distant  ;  and  not  likely  to  make 
any  way  for  some  hours,  and  panic  is  spreading  among 
the  enemy  ;  but  we  must  look  after  Magrath.  We  fished 
him  out  of  the  water  in  good  time,  and  I  fancy  that  he  is 
in  a  poor  plight — have  you  any  provision  at  hand  V 

Such  as  they  had  was  produced,  and  Magrath  voracious- 
ly devoured  it.  The  bullet  which  had  passed  through  the 
fleshy  part  of  his  arm,  had  inflicted  but  a  slight  wound  ; 
and  Basil  remarked  that  it  would  be  a  source  of  great 
thankfulness  if  his  soul  had  sustained  no  greater  injury,  ex- 
posed as  it  had  been  to  worse  peril  than  his  body. 

"  Sure,  and  I've  taken  a  power  of  care  of  the  same. 
Troth,  and  it's  I  that  have  need  to  do  that,"  he  added 
with  an  indescribable  grimace,  and  checked  himself. 

"  You've  been  to  mass !"  said  Shane,  in  a  tone  of  sor- 
rowful reproach. 

"  May-be  I  hav'nt." 

"  Nor  to  confession  ]"  asked  Bryan  eagerly. 

"  Sorrow  a  bit.  Sir." 

"  What,  could  you  not  find  a  priest  V  inquired   Ross. 

"  Och  !  as  plenty  as  pratees,  your  honor  :  but  we 
couldn't  agree,  any  how." 

He  then,  with  perfect  composure,  proceeded  to  recount 
his  adventures,  and  in  the  effect  produced  by  them,  his 
mind  appeared  to  lose  all  consideration  of  the  triumph 
which  such  a  narrative  must  afford  to  some  who  had  hith- 
erto been  his  opponents,  as  well  on  religious  as  political 
grounds. 

He  related  that  no  obstruction  had  been  offered  on  the 
short  excursion  to  Culmore,  where  he  found  a  bishop  of 
his  church,  who  received  him  with  much  kindness,  con- 
gratulating him  on  having  escaped  the  hands  of  his  ene- 
mies, and  strictly  enjoining  him  not  again  to  hazard  him- 


162  DERRY. 

8"lf  among  them.  After  some  discourse,  in  the  progress  of 
which  Magrath  baffled  several  attempts  at  obtaining  infor- 
mation concerning  Derry,  the  Bisliop  recommended  his 
confessing  to  a  priest,  just  arrived  to  hold  a  station  there. 
Magrath  obeyed  ;  but  on  coming  to  the  confessional,  hon- 
estly apprized  the  priest  that  he  should  give  no  informa- 
tion on  any  thing  that  did  not  concern  himself ; — a  plan 
in  which  the  other  refused  to  concur,  indignantly  assuring 
him  tliat  any  concealment  on  points  where  he  might  be 
questioned,  would  burden  his  soul  with  mortal  sin.  Find- 
ing his  penitent  still  refractory,  he  changed  his  tone,  and 
pathetically  appealed  on  behalf  of  the  persecuted  church, 
representing  the  Protestants,  especially  those  of  Deny,  as 
children  of  perdition,  obnoxious  alike  to  divine  and  human 
detestation,  and  with  whom  none  could  keep  faith  with- 
out incurring  the  contamination  of  their  damnable  heresies. 

The  failure  alike  of  his  eloquence,  and  oi  the  menaces 
with  which  he  interspersed  it,  soon  overcame  his  small 
stock  of  patience,  and  seizing  Magrath  by  the  collar,  he 
dragged  him  towards  an  adjoining  room,  the  door  of  which 
he  threw  open,  and  in  violent  wrath  denounced  him  as  a 
pestilent  heretic  to  the  bishop,  who  was  seated  at  break- 
fast, with  a  party  of  his  clergy  around  him.  Every  eye 
was  turned  on  ^Magrath,  who  presently  recognized  in  one 
of  them  the  ominous  twinkle  of  Father  Peters,  under  whose 
careful  superintendence  he  had  been  sent  on  pilgrimage, 
just  previous  to  his  grandfather's  death. 

The  recognition  was  mutual,  notwithstanding  the  lapse 
of  eight  years  since  their  last  meeting;  and  the  priest,  ex- 
pressing great  pleasure  at  beholding  him  again,  assured  his 
brethren  that  he  was  a  faithful  son  of  the  church,  long  un- 
der his  care,  and  one  who  would  gladly  receive  wholesome 
admonition  from  his  ancient  pastor. 

With  Peters,  therefore,  Magrath  withdrew,  and  had  to 
maintain  his  post  against  every  mode  of  displaying  that 


DERRY.  163 

authority  to  which  he  had  once  paid  such  unlimited  obe- 
dience. 

"  I  tould  his  riverince  that  I  came  to  confess  all  my  own 
sins  and  get  absolution  ;  but  the  Derry  men  hadn't  put  it 
upon  me  to  fetch  them  a  penance,  and  I  couldn't  in  con- 
science betray  them.  '  Conscience,'  says  he,  '  and  who's 
to  look  after  your  conscience,  barrin  the  clergy  that  has 
you  under  his  knee  !'  '  0,  sure,'  sa3fs  I,  '  and  isn't  it  my- 
self that  must  give  account  of  myself  to  God  ]  Musn't  I 
stand  before  the  judgment  seat  of  Christ  V  Then  to  see 
the  face  of  him  when  he  axed  me,  '  And  who  tould  you 
all  that  stuff] '  '  Stuff  is  it  V  says  I  j  '  Sure  and  it's  in 
the  blessed  book  of  God's  truth.'  And  then  I  gave  it  hira 
in  Irish,  clane  and  entire,  as  it  was  on  my  memory." 

"And  how  bore  he  that ]"  asked  Bryan. 

"  Bear  it  he  didn't  any  how  ;  but  he  clenched  his  fist 
in  my  teeth,  and  cursed  me  for  as  big  a  heretic  as  ould 
Dennis  himself,  that  was  bumirtg  like  a  dry  sod  of  turf  in 
the  fire  of  hell.  I  axed  him  how  long  had  he  known  that 
the  sowl  was  there  \  '  How  long  is  it  V  says  he  ;  '  It's 
ever  since  I  put  my  curse  on  the  ould  heretic  for  sticking 
to  the  trash  that  has  poisoned  ye  all.  Didn't  he  tell  me 
the  rites  of  the  church  couldn't  bring  him  to  heaven  1 
Troth,  and  he  went  fast  enough  to  hell  without  'em.' 
'  Why  then,'  says  I,  '  it's  your  riverince  that's  going  to 
do  the  just  and  generous  thing,  giving  back  to  my  father's 
son  the  mass-money  that  went  to  fetch  Dennis  out  of  pur- 
gatory, and  he  in  hell  the  comfortless  creathur  !'  " 

Unmoved  by  the  burst  of  laughter  which  this  shrewd 
turn  drew  from  Ross  and  Bryan,  Magrath  went  on  to  des- 
cribe the  augmented  r£ige  of  the  priest,  who  swore  that 
unless  he  gave  full  information  on  every  point  required, 
and  amply  atoned  for  his  sacrilegious  insolence,  he  should 
be  turned  out  among  the  faithful  army  as  an  excommuni- 
cated traitor      Left  to  himself,  in  a  small  apartment,  of 


164  DERRY. 

which  the  grated  window  and  iron  clenclicd  door  bespoke 
it  a  prison,  Magrath  had  leisure  to  reflect  on  the  probable 
termination  of  his  adventure  ;  while  the  pacing  of  a  sentry 
at  a  short  distance  proved  that  he  was  carefully  guarded. 

"  And  didn't  you  repent  of  your  stoutness  the  while  1" 
asked  Shane,  the  intentness  of  whose  interest  struck  all 
the  party. 

"  I  didn't  repent  of  my  honesty,  any  way,"  answered 
the  other,  with  strong  emphasis :  "  but  Father  Peters' 
blarney  had  put  me  on  thinking  over  past  times  ;  and  sure 
it  was  1  that  had  sins  to  confess,  and  wouldn't  be  let  tell 
them  to  mortal  man."  He  paused  his  heart  seemed  full, 
and  his  downcast  looks  l.espoke  deep  thought.  Then  sud- 
denly raising  his  eyes  with  a  bold  and  frank  expression, 
he  fixed  them  on  Basil,  saying,  "  I'll  tell  you  what  my- 
self did :  I  couldn't  well  bear  the  weight  that  was  on  me ; 
for  somehow,  talking  of  ould  Dennis  brought  back  the  re- 
membrance of  the  lone  tower  where  the  bishop  was  pent; 
and  I  couldn't  but  think  a  curse  was  upon  me  for  that 
same ;  so  I  kneeled  down  and  confessed  to  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  without  priest  or  patron ;  and  when  1  was  in  it, 
somehow  I  couldn't  leave  off",  but  confessed  for  ould  Den- 
nis and  all  the  race,  and  asked  him  would  I  get  absolution 
that  way  1  why  shouldn't  I  ]  for  sure  the  words  were 
clear  in  m^'  mind  :"  anil  he  recited  in  Irish,  "  Come  unto 
me,  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give 
you  rest." 

Bryan  started  from  his  chaii-,  and  repeating  the  text  in 
English,  paced  the  room,  absorbed  in  mental  thanksgiving  ; 
while  Basil,  suppressing  his  emotion,  asked  Magrath  wiiethex 
he  experienced  any  comfort  from  this,  to  him,  novel  mode 
of  confession. 

"  Sure,  and  I  did,  Sir.  A  feel  came  over  me  as  if  the 
great  God  looked  and  listened,  and  I  cannot  say  but  1 
trembled.     Yet,  comfort  it  was  to  think  that  he  heard  me, 


DERRY.  165 

and  I  got  up  with  a  lighter  heart."  He  then  related  that 
another  attack  was  made  on  his  constancy  by  one  of  the 
servants,  who,  coming  as  if  by  stealth,  set  before  him  the 
certain  death  which  awaited  him,  should  the  priest  de- 
nounce him  from  the  altar  on  the  morrow,  as  he  would 
do  unless  a  timely  submission  averted  the  fate.  Magrath, 
however,  described  the  report  of  the  pieces  which  sent 
shells  and  shot  into  Derry,  as  assisting  to  harden  hira 
against  all  pleading ;  and  he  made  up  his  mind  to  brave 
the  worst ;  passing  the  night  in  painful  reflection,  not  lin- 
mixed  with  joy,  as  passages  from  the  Irish  scrijjtures  were 
forcibly  brought  to  his  remembrance. 

At  early  morning,  Peters  once  more  appeared,  accom- 
panied by  the  bishop,  and  armed  with  all  the  artillery  of 
expostulation,  and  thundering  menaces,  both  as  regarded 
this  world  and  the  next.  He  stood  firm ;  and  they  left  hira 
for  the  first  mass,  giving  him  until  noon  to  consider  the 
consequences  of  such  unheard-of  pertinacity.  Peters  had 
informed  the  bishop  of  old  Dennis's  refractory  end ;  and 
the  virulent  abuse  heaped  on  the  word  of  God  by  the  soi' 
disa7it  ministers  of  his  truth,  operated  to  strengthen  Ma- 
grath against  the  uttermost  that  their  malice  could  achieve. 
Through  his  narrow  window  he  saw  the  men  crowding  to 
mass,  and,  not  wishing  to  be  behind  hand  in  devotion,  he 
knelt  down  to  pray,  as  before. 

The  sentry  had  been  frequently  relieved  ;  and  about 
noon,  when,  after  a  short  query,  to  which  an  equally  short 
negative  was  given,  the  priest  had  l?ft  his  door,  Magrath 
recognized  in  his  new  guard  one  whom  he  well  knew  as 
an  active  emissary  of  his  party  ;  high  in  the  confidence  of 
some  leaders  among  the  native  Irish  clans.  Magrath  called 
him  by  name  ;  and  the  other,  much  surprised,  advanced 
to  the  grate,  inquiring  by  what  means  he  had  been  placed 
in  such  a  dilemma. 

"  For  my  honesty,"  was  the  reply  j  and  before  he  could 
15 


166  DERRY. 

proceed,  the  other  burst  into  low  but  bitter  invectives  against 
the  French  party,  who,  he  said,  were  using  the  Irish  aa 
tools,  to  gain  a  looting  in  the  land  at  the  expense  ol'  their 
blood,  and  afterwards  to  enslave  them.  The  priests  then 
at  Culmore,  he  said,  were  all  in  the  plot,  and  would,  no 
doubt,  make  away  with  every  honest  man  who  sought  to 
maintain  his  country's  independence.  He  then  inquired 
if  it  was  by  their  means  that  the  prisoner  lay  under  sen- 
tence of  death,  as  he  understood  ;  Magrath  simply  gave  an 
affirmative  ;  which  drew  from  his  friend  renewed  expres- 
sions of  indignation.  As,  however,  time  for  relieving  him, 
approached,  he  hastily  desired  the  prisoner  to  watch  until 
he  should  see  a  sentry  on  guard,  wearing  a  green  ribbon 
at  his  button-hole,  and  then  to  try  the  door  of  his  cell,  and 
make  wliat  use  he  could  of  the  opi)ortunity.  He  finished 
by  directing  him  to  seek  out  their  former  employer,  and 
apprize  him  that  those  in  authority  were  deeply  plotting 
the  subjugation  of  Ireland  beneath  the  yoke  of  France  j 
and  was  gone  before  JMagrath  could  answer  a  word,  leav- 
ing him  doubtful  whether  he  should  avail  himself  of  suc- 
cour given  under  so  evident  a  misconception. 

Connellan,  his  ancient  comrade,  he  knew  to  be  a  man 
of  dark  and  stern  resolve,  in  whatsoever  regarded  the  vx- 
clusive  interests  of  the  native  race.  Religion  formed,  with 
him,  only  an  inferior  branch  of  patriotism,  and  his  was  the 
hand  that  would  stab  on  the  high  altar  even  a  sovereign 
I>ontiif,  capable  of  conspiring  against  Irish  ascendancy. 
Called  from  a  distant  post  to  take  his  turn  in  guarding  a 
prisoner  whose  safe  keeping  was  only  entrusted  to  men  of 
tried  resolution,  he  knew  no  more  than  that  he  had  fallen 
under  the  displeasure  of  their  leaders.  His  former  expe- 
rience of  Magrath's  devoted  attachment  to  the  native 
cause,  brought  at  once  his  impetuous  mind  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  for  it  he  was  now  about  to  suffer :  nor  would  he 
regard  the  representations  subsequently  made  in  answer  to 


DERRY.  167 

his  inquiries  as  any  but  the  artful  invectives  of  his  ene- 
mies. Revelry  prevailed  throughout  the  camp,  while,  in 
honor  of  Columbkill  a  high  feast  was  kept:  and  this  dis- 
order bade  fair  to  facilitate  the  plans  of  Connellan,  whose 
fixed  resolve  it  was  to  liberate  the  captive. 

iVIagrath,  meanwhile,  ruminated  on  the  strange  event, 
opening  so  unexpected  a  way  of  escape.  With  character- 
istic scorn  of  consequences,  he  resolved  to  undeceive  Con- 
nellan, rather  than  bear  the  brand  of  treachery  to  any 
party  :  at  the  same  time  not  purposing  to  lose  any  hope 
of  an  honorable  retreat  from  the  grasp  of  those  against 
whom  his  patriotism  was  rising  into  active  hostility.  Some 
hours  elapsed,  and  several  times  had  Magrath  taken  an 
anxious  survey  of  some  new  guard,  before  the  welcome 
sight  of  an  end  of  green  ribband,  drawn  out  through  the 
button-hole  of  his  vest,  apprized  him  that  a  confederate  of 
Connellan  had  assumed  the  office.  This  man  took  a  wider 
range  than  his  predecessors,  whistling  a  national  melody 
as  he  paced  the  ground  ;  and  while  observing  him,  Magrath 
distinctly  heard  a  key  turn  in  the  lock  of  his  door.  At 
the  same  time,  the  sentry,  ceasing  his  tune,  stood  stationary 
with  his  back  to  the  building. 

Magrath  opened  the  door;  all  was  clear :  he  turned  the 
key  again,  to  secure  the  entrance  of  his  prison,  and  slip- 
ping it  into  his  pocket,  passed  swiftly  round  a  projecting 
angel  of  the  wall,  and  descended  a  bank  overhanging  the 
lower  ground — a  rude,  natural  rampart — under  which 
he  paused,  stooping  low  beneath  its  level,  to  ponder  on 
the  next  movement  in  his  novel  and  perilous  expedition. 
At  any  other  time,  such  an  escape  would  have  been  mor- 
ally impossible,  nor  could  he  have  occupied  his  present 
position  for  three  minutes  undiscovered :  but  all  bonds  of 
discipline  had  been  loosed,  and  every  military  precaution 
sacrificed  at  the  shrine  ofdrunken  revelry.  In  fact,  the  army 
had  long  manifested  symptoms  of  disgust,  and  even  of  an  in- 


168  DERBY. 

surrectionary  spirit,  under  the  severe  privations  imposed 
by  their  arduous  task  before  the  stubborn  walls  of  Derry  ; 
and  it  was  wisely  counselled  by  the  crafty  priesthood,  that 
a  day  of  unlimited  enjoyment  should  be  conceded,  to  re- 
store in  some  measure  the  good  humor  of  the  troops  ;  while 
by  an  extensive  application  of  that  invaluable  engine,  the 
confessional,  they  should  themselves  be  able  to  ascertain 
that  nothing  like  an  organized  plan  of  mutiny  existed  among 
the  complainants.  Always  ready  to  take  full  advantage  of 
such  festive  seasons,  the  men  were  continually  assembling 
in  that  part  of  the  camp  where  liquor  abounded  ;  and  no 
such  attraction  residing  in  Magrath's  present  vicinity,  he 
was  comparatively  safe,  while  sreened  from  the  view  of 
the  sentinels,  whose  measured  tread  still  vibrated  before 
the  empty  guard-house. 

In  deliberating  on  his  future  course,  Magrath  decided 
on  that  from  which  a  mind  of  ordinary  nerve  would  most 
intuitively  have  shrunk.  With  care  and  circumspection 
he  might  have  won  his  way  back  to  the  walls  of  Derry, 
favored  as  he  was  by  circumstances  that  would  speedily 
be  changed  into  double  vigilance  ;  but  he  resolved  on 
gaining  some  farther  insight  into  the  condition  of  his  coun- 
trymen, and  with  this  intent  he  prepared  to  throw  himself 
into  the  midst  of  that  confused  company,  which,  like  the 
mixed  multitude  that  went  up  out  of  Egypt,  still  hovered 
about  the  regular  camp,  and  anticipated,  ifnotashare 
in  the  future  spoil,  yet,  at  least,  a  sanguinary  participation 
in  the  meditated  carnage  of  the  devoted  city.  The  better 
to  avoid  such  suspicion  as  his  decent  garb  would  perhaps 
excite,  ^lagrath  divested  himself  of  his  coat  and  shoes, 
which,  with  his  hat,  he  buried  under  some  loose  earth  : 
then,  having  torn  his  waistcoat,  and  otherwise  damaged 
his  remaining  apparel,  he  placed  the  fragment  of  a  tobac- 
co-pipe in  bis  mouth,  and  sallied  forth,  exposed  to  any  eye 
that  might  be  roaming  thitherward,  and  deliberately  pajised 
on  towards  the  outermost  part  of  the  encampment. 


PERRY.  169 

Bryan  could  not  refrain  from  expressing  some  astonish- 
ment at  a  proceeding  so  manifestly  imprudent ;  but  Magrath 
assured  him  that,  barring  Father  Peters,  he  could  have 
faced  any  man  who  had  seen  him  during  that  or  the  pre- 
ceding day  without  apprehension  of  discovery.  Adding, 
that  at  tirst  he  had  assumed  somewhat  of  a  staggering  gait, 
as  though  intoxicated ;  but  some  passage  which  came  into 
his  mind,  bidding  him  abstain  from  every  appearance  of 
evil — and  he  quoted  it  in  the  Irish — induced  him  to  lay 
aside  the  semblance  of  that  sin  which  he  would  not  actu- 
ally have  committed,  and  to  trust  to  such  disguise  alone  as 
his  conscience  could  not  condemn. 

Arrived  among  the  wild  stragglers  of  his  race,  he  was 
allured  by  the  savory  steams  of  a  pot,  which  promised 
some  relief  to  his  hunger ;  and  which,  as  he  approached, 
was  just  taken  over  from  a  fire  of  turf,  where  it  had  hung 
suspended  from  sticks,  and  carried  into  a  sort  of  cabin,  or 
rather  shed,  most  rudely  constructed  for  the  shelter  of 
as  many  human  beings  sis  chose  to  congregate  beneath  its 
roof.  His  wistful  looks  were  remarked  by  one  who  seemed 
to  exercise  some  control  over  his  surrounding  companions ; 
and  who,  as  a  matter  of  course,  proffered  a  welcome  to  the 
stranger,  in  that  tongue  which  was  almost  exclusively 
spoken  around  him.  Magrath  thankfiilly  accepted  the  in- 
vitation, while  his  host  remarked  that  it  was  a  long  kst 
some  of  them  had  kept :  adding,  that  probably  Magrath, 
like  himself,  had  been  with  the  priest  that  day :  a  fact 
which  the  visitor  readily  confirmed. 

"  I  could  not  get  to  the  blessed  sacrament,"  said  the 
other,  crossing  himself,  "  until  just  now  ;  and  that  is  the 
reason  that  I  am  fasting  still.  Oh,  it's  a  comfortable  thing 
to  come  under  the  priest's  hand,  and  to  know  that  all  is 
right  between  God  and  your  soul." 

"  Ay,  Corny,"  remarked  another,  "  you  are  the  most  re- 
15* 


170  DERRY. 

ligious  man  among  us.     I  don't  believe  you  ever  put  your 
head  down  without  prayers." 

"  Never,  without  an  act  of  faith,  and  of  hope,  and  of 
charity,"  answered  Corny.  "  How  could  I  get  my  rest,  if 
I  was  not  in  peace  with  God  and  all  the  world  !" 

By  this  time  the  savoury  mess  was  emptied  into  a  ca- 
pacious pan,  and  the  guests  proceed  to  help  themselves, 
each  as  suited  his  own  convenience.  Some  women  and 
children  were  among  the  party,  and  the  latter  appeared 
particularly  ravenous;  one  little  fellow  was  grasping  at  a 
small  bone,  in  sucli  haste  that  he  burnt  his  fingers  severely, 
and  threw  it  down  with  a  cry. 

"Served  you  right,  Dan,"  said  Corny.  ''What  good 
do  you  think  you'll  get  of  the  food  without  blessing  your- 
self? come,  sir,  do  it  now  ;  you  are  a  perfect  heathen." 
The  child  readily  crossed  himself,  and  Magrath  could  not 
but  feel  respect  for  the  character  of  his  pious  and  hospit- 
able entertainer.  As  the  dinner  proceeded,  he  cast  his 
eyes  around  tlie  room,  if  such  it  could  be  called,  and  in 
one  corner  discerned  a  confused  heap,  the  outlines  of  which 
struck  him  with  sensations  of  uneasiness,  though  he  could 
hardly  assign  a  name  to  the  object  before  him. 

Corney,  however,  followed  the  direction  of  his  eye,  and 
exclaimed,  triumphantly,  "  Aye,  that's  one  of  them,  and 
snug  enough  he  is,  I'll  engage  you."  He  then  put  forth 
what  partook  pretty  equally  of  the  character  of  an  impre- 
cation and  a  prayer :  trusting  that  the  Virgin  would  give 
them  as  many  whole  heretic  carcases  to  pike,  as  there 
were  hairs  on  that  fellow's  head. 

"  Where  did  he  come  from  1"  asked  Magrath. 

"  Skulking  from  Enniskillen,  I  suppose,  to  the  wall  of 
the  devil's  other  fortress,  yonder.  We  laid  hold  of  him, 
last  evening,  and  paid  him  off  to  some  purpose.  It  was 
myself^  though,  that  cut  at  him  both  first  and  last." 


DERRY.  171 

"  No,  it  was  not,"  said  little  Dan,  "  for  I  stuck  the  knife 
into  him  after  you." 

"  Well,  you  are  a  brave  little  lad,  and  there's  a  better 
bone  for  you,  only  don't  forget  the  blessing  again,  Dan  ;  for 
what  is  man  or  boy  without  religion  1" 

Magrath  had  never  been  sensible  to  how  great  an  extent 
the  veil  had  been  removed  from  his  heart,  until  he  expe- 
rienced the  thrill  of  horror  which  this  dialogue  sent  through 
it.  A  few  weeks  ago,  and  not  the  slightest  incongmity 
would  have  appeared  on  the  face  of  this  fearful  compound 
of  religion  and  butchery  ;  but  now  it  struck  him  as  the 
very  masterpiece  of  satanic  domination  over  the  soul  of 
man.  Still,  with  his  unfailing  self-possession,  he  escaped 
exciting  a  surmise  as  to  the  lenor  of  his  feelings  ;  and  wish- 
ing for  farther  confirmation,  where  his  own  experience 
bore  but  too  clear  a  testimony,  he  asked,  in  a  careless 
way,  "  And  what  said  his  reverence  to  you  about  it  1" 

"It  would  not  become  me,''  answered  Corny,  "to  re- 
peat all  that  his  reverence  was  so  good  as  to  say  ;  for  sure- 
ly I  did  no  more  than  my  duty.  But  he  gave  me  a  plen- 
ary indulgence  for  seven  years,  and  power  to  deliver  the 
soul  of  my  father  and  grandfather  from  purgatory  ;  saying 
— and  that  I  tell  for  the  encouragement  of  others — that  if 
every  heart  was  as  sound,  and  every  hand  as  steady  as 
Cornelius  O  Keefe's,  we  should  not  be  so  long  unkennelling 
the  poisonous  vermin,  and  clearing  the  sod  of  their  whole 
generation." 

"The  infernal  hypocrite!"  ejaculated  Ross,  while  the 
rest  of  the  party  seemed  petrified  by  the  tale.  Magrath 
quietly  asked  him,  "  Is  it  Corny,  or  the  priest.  Sir  V 

"  Why,  both,  but  particularly  the  murdering  scoundrel 
who  made  such  a  fuss  about  crossing  himself." 

"  Then,  begging  your  honor's  pardon,  no  more  a  hypo- 
crite than  yourself,  Mr.  Ross  ;  or  than  Mr.  Basil  was,  when 
he  prayed  over  his  enemies  in  the  ould  tower.     And  why 


172  DERRY. 

did  he  do  that  ]  Sure,  wasn't  it  because  his  religion 
taught  him,  and  his  own  bishop  showed  him  the  way  into 
it  1  Now,  Corny 's  relif^ion  tauj^ht  him  the  other  plan,  and 
his  priest  encouraged  him  in  the  same.  If  Mr.  Basil  had 
murdered  ould  Dennis  that  guarded  him,  I'm  thinking  it's 
he  that  would  have  been  the  hypocrite  ;  and  sure  if  O'Keefe 
let  til.'  Trutestant  escape,  the  same  would  have  been  his 
rightful  name.  Moreover,  he'd  have  earned  the  curse  of 
his  church,  instead  of  gettint:  sowls  out  of  purgatory." 

*'  Och,"  groaned  old  Shane  ;  "  and  vou  think  they  were 
in  it  !" 

"  Myself  didn't  see  them  any  how,  in  or  out,"  answered 
Magrath,  with  one  of  his  peculiar  grimaces.  He  then  re- 
sumed th(.'  thread  of  his  narrative,  relating  that  the  sulPer- 
ings  of  the  Irish  without  the  walls  fell  very  little  short  of 
those  experienced  by  the  besieged  :  while  f imine  pn'vailcd 
to  a  great  extent,  and  contagious  diseases  carried  olf  num- 
bers daily.  A  feeling  similar  to  that  expressed  by  Con- 
nellan  seemed  very  generally  diliused  among  the  native 
Irish,  who  complained  heavily  of  the  callous  indill'erence 
with  which  the  foreign  soldiers  and  officers  beheld  their 
sullerings,  securing  to  themselves  whatever  they  could  lay 
hold  on,  and  treating  as  an  inferior  race  of  beings  those  to 
whose  aid  they  professed  to  have  come.  Still  the  priesta 
had  laid  a  timely  and  elTectual  curb  on  this  murmuring  dis- 
position ;  and  by  directing  every  excited  feeling  into  its 
ancient  channel  of  vengeful  hatred  a2;ainst  the  Protestant 
name  and  cause,  these  ghostly  engineers  had  wrought  a 
diversion  highly  favorable  to  their  arrogant  allies  ;  into 
whose  hands,  as  Magrath  again  asserted,  they  had  most  as- 
suredly sold  both  the  country  and  its  whole  population. 

When  he  had  completed  his  survey,  the  intrepid  Irish- 
man bent  his  steps  towards  Derry  ;  but  having  excited 
some  suspicion  when  approaching  it,  he  was  fired  at  and 
pursued.     As   a  dernier  resort  he  had  plunged  into  the 


DEKRY.  173 

Foyle,  by  his  skill  in  diving,  baffling  farther  aim,  and  un 
der  the  shades  of  closing  twilight,  escaped  their  view ;  the 
attention  of  his  pursuers  having  been  arrested  by  the  sud- 
den report  of  a  fleet  entering  the  Lough.  He  had,  how- 
ever, exhausted  his  strength  so  much,  that  he  might  have 
perished  in  the  water,  had  not  Ross,  with  his  little  recon- 
noitering  party,  happily  discovered  and  rescued  him. 

"  Aye,  my  lad,"  observed  Ross,  as  he  concluded,  "  and 
■with  hearty  good  will  I  landed  you  on  terra  jirma  ;  but 
mind,  the  next  time  you  sally  out  at  the  priest's  bidding, 
you  may  e'en  fight  your  way  back  again,  for  any  help  that 
you'll  get  from  me." 

"  True,  for  you,  Sir,"  answered  Magrath  ;  and  the  smile 
that  accompanied  his  words  seemed  to  augur  little  success 
for  the  priest,  should  he  issue  a  second  summons. 

Ross  declared  that  he  would  have  Smith  tossed  over  to 
his  confederates,  at  the  top  of  the  morning  ;  but  tliat  worthy 
gentleman  had  anticipated  his  kind  purpose,  by  stealing 
out  soon  after  nightfall,  leaving  them  to  conjecture  that 
tidings  of  the  prisoner's  escape  had  reached  him,  and  that 
his  disinclination  for  any  possible  meeting  with  Magrath 
prompted  the  hasty  retreat. 

Magrath  had  not  described  to  his  auditors  the  effect  pro- 
duced on  his  mind  by  the  horrible  incongruities,  displayed 
under  the  roof  of  Cornelius  O'Keefe  ;  but  from  his  ready 
disclosure  of  the  facts,  the  inference  was  necessarily  drawn, 
that  popery  had  nearly  lost  her  victim  ;  and  powerful  was 
the  encouragement  deduced,  to  pursue  those  rational  and 
scriptural  means  whereby  the  infernal  yoke  should  be  ef- 
fectually and  for  ever  broken  from  his  neck. 


CIIAPTHU    XI 


It  was  a  remark  of  King  William,  when  alluding  to  the 
protracted  d»'fonce  of  Derry,  that  then*  could  not  have 
been  one  soldier  either  without  or  within  its  walls.  He 
spoke  with  that  exclusive  reference  to  second  cauKS, 
which  is  too  prevalent  among  warriors  and  statesmen  ;  evi- 
dently implying  that  no  man  of  military  genius  cf)uld  have 
failed  of  carrying,  or  ventured  upon  defending,  so  weak  a 
post.  In  thus  saying,  he,  however  under-rated  the  profes- 
sional abilities  of  the  French  Mareschal,  who,  on  the  first 
view  of  that  little  citadel,  was  so  struck  with  the  human 
impossibility  of  any  garrison  maintaining  passession,  that 
he  expressed  supreme  contempt  for  those  who  had  failed 
of  capturing  it ;  sAvearing  a  most  impious  oath,  that  he 
would  make  his  soldiers  bring  it  to  him  stone  by  stone.  It 
would  seem  that  neither  the  monarch  nor  the  maresclial 
called  to  mind  the  over-ruling  power  of  him  who,  in  answer 
to  the  jirayer  of  a  believing  king,  said  of  the  vaunting 
enemy  encamped  before  his  walls,  "  He  shall  not  come 
into  this  city  nor  shoot  an  arrow  there,  nor  come  before  it 
with  shields,  nor  cast  a  bank  against  it.  By  the  way  that 
he  came,  by  the  same  shall  he  return,  and  shall  not  come 
into  this  city,  saith  the  Lord." 

It  was  a  sore  trial  of  faith  to  the  fainting  inhabitants  of 
Derry,  when  the  ships,  whose  approach    had  so  revived 


DERRY.  175 

their  hopes,  and  struck  terror  into  the  besiegers,  turned  their 
prows  against  the  breeze  and  departed.  The  drawing  of  a 
few  cannon  from  the  Irish  camp  down  to  the  banks  of 
Lough  Foyle,  intimidated  the  English  commander  into  this 
cruel  desertion  oi  his  suffering  allies  ;  and  they  were  once 
more  cast  on  the  unseen  Arm  to  which  many  of  them 
clung  with  an  enduring  trust,  well  worthy  the  brightest 
periods  of  the  church. 

In  vain  did  the  signal  of  distress  wave  from  their  cathe- 
dral-spire ;  in  vain  did  the  famishing  people  mount  their 
walls,  and  stretch  their  hands,  and  strain  their  eyeballs,  as 
if  to  catch  some  answering  sign  from  the  receding  vessels  j 
some  with  cries  of  anguish,  others  with  loud  reproach,  or 
bitter  execrations,  while  a  few,  in  patient  submission,  se- 
cretly prayed  for  grace  to  wait  the  Lord's  appointed  time. 
The  shouts  and  insulting  gestures  with  which  the  enemy 
mocked  their  baffled  hope,  proved  to  some  more  irritating 
than  the  disappointment  itself;  and  one  of  the  apprentices 
exclaimed  that,  to  be  revenged  on  those  unfeeling  English, 
he  could  find  in  his  heart  to  lling  open  the  town-gates,  and 
swear  fealty  to  King  James. 

"  Indeed  you  would  not,"  answered  Bryan  ;  "  our  cause 
is  unchanged  and  so  are  we.  We  struggle  not  to  sustain 
this  dynasty  or  that,  but  to  keep  alive  a  glimmering  spark, 
which,  once  extinct,  must  leave  our  poor  country  in  utter 
darkness.  We  have  nursed  that  little  spark  through  storm 
and  flame,  through  pestilence  and  famine,  and  we'll  guard 
it  still,  the  Lord  being  our  helper.  Precious  beam !  yet 
destined  to  survive,  and  shine,  and  brighten  every  nook  of 
our  own  green  isle  !" 

"  Bravo !"  cried  Walker ;  "  three  cheers  for  that  sen- 
timent from  all  true  Derry  boys  :"  and  the  call  wai) 
obeyed  with  all  the  alacrity  of  rekindled  enthusiasm. 

But  sadly  they  descended  from  those  walls  to  bear  the 
unwelcome  tidings,  each  to  his  home  :  to  meet  the  hollow 


176  DERRY. 

eye  of  craving  famine,  and  to  blanch  the  hectic  of  expec- 
tation on  many  a  care-worn  clie»'k  ;  to  hear  the  moan  of 
insupportable  disajipoititinont,  or  to  gaze  on  the  more  piti- 
able smile,  beneath  which  allection  souf^ht  to  veil  the  suf- 
ferings of  nature.  This  last  was  Bryan's  lot  to  encounter; 
the  Lady  of  M'Alisler  looked  up  with  meek  s\ibmission, 
saying,  "All  is  well.  The  tire  would  not  be  thus  intensely 
heated  if  the  Lord  had  nut  here  SDnie  preciuus  metal  tore- 
fine  and  purify." 

Ellen,  stretched  on  her  couch  o(  chairs,  turned  her  cheek 
to  the  pillow,  and  remarked,  "  1  must  needs  grieve  for 
others  who  hunger  ;  but  nuiif  need  pity  me,  who  have  so 
poor  an  appetite." 

''  You'll  be  saying  any  how,"  rejoined  Shane  ;  "■  but  it'a 
a  sup  of  nourishment  that  would  put  the  blood  into  your 
veins  again,  avourneen." 

"  I  have  a  heavier  trial  than  this,"  observed  Basil,  "  for 
the  swelling  in  my  ancles  threatens  to  forbid  my  visiting 
tile  prisoners." 

The  Lady  anxiously  exclaimed,  "  Do  not  say  so ;  you 
shall  be  wheeled  in  Ellen's  chair.  Amid  these  sighs  and 
sounds  of  horror,  O  let  not  that  voice  of  pity  be  silenced." 

"  And  why  would  it  {"  asked  Magrath,  who  in  gloomy 
silence  had  occupied  a  distant  corner.  "  Sure,  and  I'm 
quite  agreeable  to  go  in  his  place." 

'•  And  to  read  the  scriptures  to  your  countrymen  ?" 

"  Why  not  \  The  story  o'  pace  is  a  good  story  to  tell  a 
man  any  day,  let  alone  such  days  as  these."  He  took  Ba. 
sil's  book  from  the  mantel-piece,  and  immediately  sallied 
forth. 

"  Now,  grandmother  :"  said  Ellen,  "  is  not  that  better 
cheer  than  all  the  ships  of   England  could    have   brought 

us  r 

"  Fm  thinking  it  is,"  remarked  Shane,  as  he  took  hia 
staff,  and  tottered  out  after  his  nephew. 


DKRRY.  177 

"  These  are  cordials,"  cried  the  Lady,  "  precious  cor- 
dials for  fainting  hearts.  Year  after  year  has  that  stubborn 
8oil  resisted  the  hand  of  culture,  and  chilled  me  oft  with 
sinful  unbelief,  as  though  God  had  willed  the  death  of  a 
soul,  placed  by  his  own  overruling  providence  under  every 
means  of  grace.  The  famine  and  the  drought  are  consum- 
ing his  aged  flesh  ;  but  Shane's  spirit  now  hangers  and 
thirsts  after  righteousness,  and  it  shall  be  filled."' 

"Indeed,"  rejoined  Basil,  "  I  never  witnessed  a  more 
lively  eagerness  after  spiritual  nourishment  than  he  has 
lately  shown.  When  you  read,  he  listens  with  serious 
attention,  and  strives  to  understand  :  but  soon  as  the  sen- 
tence reached  his  ear  in  the  beloved  Celtic,  every  faculty 
is  roused,  and  his  whole  soul  absorbed,  to  the  seeming  ex- 
clusion of  all  bodily  sullering." 

In  the  mean  time,  the  subject  of  their  remarks  proceed- 
ed to  the  prison,  where  jMagrath,  surrounded  by  his  won- 
dering countrymen,  was  reading  the  word  of  life  to  some 
who  had  formerly  known  him  under  very  different  cir- 
cumstances. Basil  had  in  somewise  overawed  them  by 
his  venerable  aspect  and  superior  manners  :  but  with 
Magrath  they  were  under  less  restraint,  and  one  began 
loudly  to  cavil,  rejecting  the  bible  as  a  book  proscribed  by 
the  priest,  and  therefore  to  be  abhorred  of  all  true  catho- 
lics. Another  maintained  that  the  book  proscribed  was 
the  English  bible,  the  real  heretic  words,  whereas  nothing 
but  the  right  religion  could  be  put  into  Irish.  Magrath 
refused  to  avail  himself  of  the  ready  assent  yielded  by  the 
rest  to  this  characteristic  distinction  ;  he  stoutly  asserted 
the  supreme  authority  of  God's  word,  in  whatsoever  lan- 
guage conveyed  ;  and  his  arguments,  though  abounding 
rather  in  point  and  shrewdness  than  in  spiritual  power, 
plainly  indicated  that  glowing  light  which  had  begun  to 
triumph  over  the  long-cherished  darkness  of  his  soul. 

He  returned  home  in  good  spirits,  recounting  what  had 
16 


178  DERRY. 

passed,  and  apparently  much  gratified  by  the  invitation 
given  at  parting  to  renew  his  visit. 

"  This  blessed  leaven  will  work,"  remarked  Basil  to 
Bryan,  "  and  tbt;  teacher  will  learn  while  insUuctijig 
others.'' 

Ellen  observed  how  much  England  must  have  to  answer 
for,  in  so  long  neglecting  these  simple  means  of  instructing 
her  sisfer  island. 

"JShe  has  answered,  dearly  answered  for  it,"  said  the 
Lady  of  M'Alister,  "  in  rivers  of  her  best  blood,  and 
hoards  of  her  treasure  ;  nor  will  the  efTrct  ever  cease 
while  the  cause  remains.  Ireland  unenlightened,  will  still 
be  Ireland  unsubdued  ;  her  people  may  be  won,  may  be 
melted,  may  be  attached  with  all  the  ardor  that  their 
glowing  atlt'ctions  are  caj)able  of  :  but  coerced  they  can- 
not be  into  perfect  subjugation,  while  the  dearest  feelings 
of  their  nature  are  outraged  by  the  wild  attempt  to  crush 
their  national  predilections,  or  left  to  expatiate  amid  ex* 
citing  themes,  in  a  language  unknown  to  thf  strangers  who 
govern  them.  Strangers  slill,  and  over  to  remain  as  such, 
while  they  suffer  that  language  to  run,  like  an  impassable 
river,  along  the  boundary,  which,  by  a  little  ])atirnt  and 
judicious  labor,  might  be  led  into  channels  of  kindly  com- 
munication and  mutual  benefit  between  two  people  so 
near,  and  yet,  alas!  so  widely  and  fatally  separated!" 

Thus,  under  many  a  roof,  were  the  manifestations  of  di» 
vine  love  enabling  surtering  families  to  glorify  God  in  the 
fires  of  increasing  tribulations  ;  and  the  prayer  of  the  peo- 
ple prevailed  to  strengthen  the  bulwarks,  in  themselves  so 
miserably  weak.  A  few  days  brought  the  expected  aug- 
mentation to  their  besiegers'  forces  of  fifteen  hundred 
troops,  commanded  by  De  Rosen,  whose  preliminary  vaunt 
has  been  already  noticed,  and  who  took  especial  caie  that 
threats  and  promises  should  be  conveyed  in  equal  abun- 
dance to  the  straitened  garrison.    He  menaced  all  of  every 


DERRY.  179 

age  and  either  sex,  with  the  most  cruel  deaths  that  protract- 
ed torture  could  inflict,  unless  the  town  were  immediately 
delivered  up  to  him  ;  while  bribes  as  cos:ly  as  the  denun- 
ciations were  terrific,  were  held  out  to  those  who  should 
induce  submission  ;  but,  as  Walker  writes  in  his  brief 
diary,  "  God  having  under  all  their  difficulties  established 
them,  with  a  spirit  and  resolution  above  all  fear  or  tempta- 
tion," this  intrepid  governor  immediately  issued  an  order, 
denouncing  the  penalty  of  death  on  any  man  in  Derry  who 
should  even  mention  the  subject  of  surrender. 

Magrath,  with  undisguised  satisfaction,  communicated 
this  order  at  home,  adding,  "  It's  his  riverence  that  is  arch, 
sure  enough  ;  and  he'll  be  guessing  that  Mounseer  hasn't 
the  gift  like  one  of  the  real  blood,  to  bring  the  boys  afler 
his  heels.  Connellan  wasn't  the  only  one  that  grumbled 
over  it  ;  and  myself  doesn't  care  if  I  join  the  next  sally,  to 
put  down  the  foreigners  that  come  to  enslave  us."  From 
that  day  his  activity  increased  in  the  service  of  the  citizens, 
who  were  kept  in  continual  anxiety  by  numerous  deser- 
tions, and  the  consequent  accuracy  of  the  intelligence  per- 
petually conveyed  to  their  vigilant  foes. 

Language  is  insufficient  to  portray  the  horrors  of  accu- 
mulating misery  sustained  by  the  diminished  band.  The 
horse-flesh  was  all  expended,  and  the  twenty  thousand 
sufferers  who  still  remained  were  reduced  to  greater  priva- 
tions than  they  had  ever  yet  anticipated  ;  the  daily  deaths 
becoming  a  matter  of  calculation,  not  unmixed  with  selfish 
feeling,  among  those  whose  craving  hunger  grudged  the 
supply  of  so  many  mouths  ;  but  instances  abounded  of  no- 
ble devotion  to  the  public  cause,  and  self-denial  was  prac- 
tised to  an  extent  truly  admirable.  Bryan's  little  party 
had  long  since  made  a  voluntary  relinquishment  of  their 
private  hoard  to  the  public  store,  and  he  had  himself  em- 
barked in  an  attempt  to  gain  the  distant  ships,  with  the 
view  of  making  known  their  desperate  situation  to  the  un- 


180  DRRBY. 

feeling  Kirke  who  still  rode  at  anchor  where  he  could 
behold  the  piteous  signals  of  agonizing  distress.  This  effort 
was  rendered  fruitless  by  opposing  enemies  ;  and  the  little 
party  returned  after  braving  such  ])eril  in  the  cause  of  hu- 
itianity,  that  Magrath  couW  not  refrain  from  uttering  a  few 
remarks  on  the  subject  of  M'Alister's  cowardice,  within 
par-shut  of  his  ancient  antagonist,  Crowe. 

The  Lady  was  privy  to  this  expedition,  but  they  con- 
cealed it  from  Ellt-n,  whose  wasted  powers  could  ill  have 
sustained  the  agony  of  sisterly  apprehension.  Her  grand- 
mother had  cut  the  silver  buttons  from  a  suit  of  her  hus- 
band's garments,  and  added  to  them  the  poor  remains  of 
her  family  insignia,  in  the  hope  that  a  price  of  some  mag- 
nitude might  win,  from  the  well-supplied  shipp'mg,  a  few 
articles  of  suitable  nourishment  for  the  uncomplaining  girl ; 
but  in  vain.  Bryan  returned,  after  an  absence  of  twinty- 
four  hours  ;  and  the  first  feeling  of  his  mind,  on  re-entering 
their  poor  abode,  was  a  conviction  that  Ellen's  sull'erings 
were  nearly  terminated,  although,  to  eyes  less  habituated 
to  the  sight  of  premature  death,  she  would  have  a])pfared 
surprisingly  revived. 

"  What  tidings  do  you  bring  us,  dearest  brother  1"  she 
asked,  as  he  took  his  station  by  her  side. 

He  answered,  "  Governor  Baker  is  no  more  ;  and  the 
enemy  persist  in  tempting  the  garrison  to  treachery  by 
every  species  of  inducement ;  but  they  will  not  prevail." 

"Prevail  is  it  1"  said  Shane;  "sure  I  saw  the  boy, 
Larry,  seize  a  fellow,  with  papers  in  his  pouch,  to  tempt 
the  lads ;  and  no  thanks  to  them  that  he  wasn't  tore  to 
pieces  before  Larry  could  get  him  under  shelter."' 

Magrath  entered  to  confirm  this  statement,  adding  that 
the  Derry  men  had  a  greater  spite  to  traitors  within  than 
foes  without. 

"And  that  is  a  good  rule,"  observed  Ellen,  "  if  we  all 
applied  it  to  the  traitors  in  our  own  hearts,  as  being  for 
more  hateful  than  all  our  outward  afflictions." 


DEKRY.  181 

The  Lady  of  jM'Alister  had  caught  Bryan's  eye,  and  the 
look  told  much  of  mutual  expectation  of  what  was  at  hand. 
Magialh  had  rivetted  his  on  Ellen,  and,  with  an  altered 
expression  of  countenance,  seated  himself  opposite.  The 
summer  twilight  was  closing,  and  a  small  lamp  shed  its 
pale  glimmer  on  the  beautiful  but  still  paler  face  be- 
neath it. 

"  Now  let  us  speak,"  she  said  "  of  the  mercies  already 
experienced  in  our  little  besieged  city,  that  from  the  past 
we  may  gather  hope  for  the  future." 

"  First  then,"'  said  Bryan,  "  for  a  recent  interposition, 
too  remarkable  to  be  overlooked.  We  removed  our 
gunpowder  from  Campsie's  cellar,  on  a  vague  apprehension 
of  insecurity.  In  less  than  twenty-four  hours,  a  bomb  fell 
and  exploded  in  that  cellar,  by  which,  but  for  the  provi- 
dential removal,  our  city  had  been  destroyed." 

A  pause  of  thankfulness  ensued  ;  and  several  other  in- 
stances of  merciful  interposition  having  been  recounted, 
the  Lady  spoke  of  that  discriminating  goodness  which  had 
removed,  by  so  easy  a  transition,  the  two  who,  of  their 
little  household,  seemed  most  ripe  for  heaven  ;  sparing  them 
the  anguish  which  thousands  were  left  to  endure  ;  adding, 
"  Few  and  feeble  will  be  the  remnant  reserved  to  welcome 
deliverance,  if,  to  any,  temporal  deliverance  come." 

i'  Never  '  if '  it,  my  Lady,"  said  Shane.  "  Delivered 
we  shall  be ;  and  of  that  we  have  tokens  galore." 

"  The  token  of  continual  answers  to  prayer,"  added 
Bryan. 

"  That  to  be  sure.  Master  Bryan  dear  ;  but  we've  signs 
to  show  us  the  same,  if  you'll  only  listen  to  what  has  been 
seen." 

"  Well  go  on." 

"  Troth  and  its  uncle  that  will  make  a  long  story,"  said 
Magrath  ;  "  but  1 11  tell  you  clean  off  hand.  Why  then, 
Sir,  every  night,  as  soon  as  the  bell  goes  twelve,  fair  or 
16* 


182  DERRT. 

foul,  light  or  dark,  there  comes  a  big  angel,  riding  a  horse 
as  white  as  Miss  Ellon's  hand,  and  going  the  round,  with  a 
drawn  sword,  over  land  and  water,  to  trace  the  holy  circle, 
that  neither  man  nor  devil  may  pass  ;" — he  was  about  to 
cross  himself,  but  desisted. 

"And  you  believe  this  !"  asked  Bryan,  smiling. 
"  And  why  wouldn't  he  V  indignantly  retorted  Shane. 
"  Hasn't  he  told  you  the  real  truth  !  How  else  would  he 
know  the  horse's  color,  and  the  sword  that  is  pale  and 
pink,  like  the  top  of  the  morning  \  Och  !  but  it's  no  time 
to  be  doubting  :  when  the  devils  come  up  against  us  by 
troops,  is  it  that  tlie  Lord  couldn't  spare  us  an  angel  to  stand 
sentry !" 

"  Very  true,  iShane  ;  but" 

"  It  isn't  a  but,"  interrupted  Magrath  :  "and  yourself, 
Mr.  Bryan,  slioiddn't  question  it :  for  why  '.  didn't  you  shew 
me  the  jisalm  that  says  it  V  and  he  repeated  in  Irish,  "  The 
angel  of  the  Lord  encampcth  round  about  them  that  fear 
him,  and  delivereth  them. ' 

"  There,  Sir,"  cried  Shane  exultingly. 
"Not  one  angel  alone,"  exclaimed  Ellen,  "but  hosts  of 
heavenly  guardians,  chariots,  and  horses  of  fire  are  on  the 
hills  around  us.  Are  they  not  ministering  spirits,  sent 
forth  to  minister  to  us  /  Have  they  not  charge  concern- 
ing us,  to  keep  us  in  all  our  ways  '.  Do  they  not  joy  in 
the  presence  of  God  over  one  repenting  sinner  \  Oh  !  to 
attain  to  that  innumerable  company — that  groat  multitude 
of  the  heavenly  host,  who,  on  the  plain  of  Bethlehem, 
hymned  the  new-born  Savior,  and  now  roll  their  unceas- 
ing anthems  round  the  throne  of  the  Lamb!" 

She  uttered  this  most  energetically  ;  and  Magrath'ji 
countenance  bespoke  such  triumphant  animation  as  re- 
called to  every  one  present  the  fact  of  his  having  been 
taught,  from  infancy,  to  worship  those  ministers  of  God's 
pleasure.     Ellen  gathered  breath,  and  proceeded :  "Shall 


DERRY.  183 

We  not  love  our  fellow-servants,  and  bless  the  hand  which 
commissions  them  to  aid  1  Because  some  have  erred  from 
the  truth,  and  taught  men  to  pray  to  them  which  are  no  gods, 
we  run  into  the  other  extreme,  and  fear  to  speak  of  them. 
I  can  rejoice  in  the  sunshine,  love  the  warm  beam,  and 
bless  the  power  and  wisdom  which  created  it,  without 
danger  of  worshiping  the  sun,  with  Eastern  idolators/' 

"  You  are  right,  my  love,"  responded  the  Lady.  "  We 
dwell  too  little  on  the  realities  of  that  spiritual  world  near 
which  we  live,  unseeing,  but  how  clearly  seen.  And 
doubtless,  the  sin  of  worshiping  angels,  introduced  among 
a  cloud  of  other  abominations,  has  operated  to  deprive  us 
of  many  a  sweet  and  cheering  contemplation  on  their  ex- 
istence, nature,  offices,  and  privileges — so  soon  to  be  our 
own,  through  the  grace  of  Him,  who,  for  our  sakes,  stooped 
to  be  made  lower  than  the3\" 

"  ril  toll  3'ou,"  said  -Macjrath,  who  perceived  the  drift 
of  their  allusions  to  his  creed.  "It's  myself  that  hasn't 
prayed  a  bead  to  saint  or  angel  this  many  a  da3\  Why 
should  I  ]"  Then  with  an  emotion  that  defied  control, 
while  tears  burst  from  his  eyes,  he  added,  "  Miss  Ellen, 
dear,  the  cold  hand  of  death  is  over  ye." 

"I  know  it,  Magrath." 

"  Then  carry  this  comfort  with  ye,  that  poor  Larry 
Magrath  will  never  put  hope  nor  trust  in  living  soul,  let 
alone  them  that  are  dead,  but  believe  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  for  'tis  he  that  can  save — and  make  his 
prayer  to  God  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  with- 
out cross  or  crucifix,  bead  or  wafer,  or  any  thing  but  the 
blessed  bible  itself     Amen." 

He  clasped  his  hands  and  raised  bis  eyes  with  a  look  of 
fervent  appeal ;  but,  save  Eilen  herself,  none  could  fully 
participate  in  its  feelings.  A  gleam  of  heart-cheering  de- 
light it  did  indeed  shed  over  each ;  but  his  abrupt  annun- 
ciation of  her  approaching  departure,  and  the  calm  response 


184  DEKRY. 

which  confirmed  it,  wrung  every  bosom.  She  perceived 
it;  and  after  extending  her  hand  to  Magrath,  with  an  earn- 
est blessing,  she  threw  it  around  lier  brother's,  and  asked 
him  whether  he  wished  to  detain  her  from  the  blessed  so- 
ciety of  which  they  had  been  speaking. 

"No  Ellen,  I  tlo  not.  These  are  tears  of  selfish  envy. 
You  are  happy — quite  happy  1"  and  his  voice  soltened 
fix)m  assertion  into  interrogation,  as  he  bent  over  her. 

"Perfectly  happy;  not  a  doubt  nor  a  fear.  The  Lord  \a 
present,  who  has  done  great  things  for  me,  and  in  that  I  re- 
joice. O  Bryan,  trust  him  at  all  times,  and  pour  out  your 
hearts  before  him!  Yes,  I  am  very  happy  ;  but  oh,  my  be- 
reaved mother!"  and  she  turned  to  the  Lady,  who  knelt 
beside  her.  "  Hush,  my  darling  :  the  mother  sees  her  chil- 
dren laid  to  rest,  and  then  how  peaceful  her  own  pillow  ! — 
how  bright  tiiat  morning  of  the  resurrection,  when  all  shall 
bloom  in  n>novated  beauty  around  their  Father's  table  ! 
I  have  lived  to  see  the  fruit  of  many  prayers — every 
prayer:  and  shall  I  murmur  1  No,  Ellen,  this  is  the  vic- 
tory that  overcometh  the  world  even  our  faith.  Co  in 
peace,  vein  of  my  heart !  and  we  will  abide  in  hope." 

Peaceful  indeed,  as  atlection  itself  could  desire,  were 
the  few  remaining  hours  of  Ellen's  mortal  existence.  She 
declined  to  be  carried  into  her  own  apartment,  observing, 
that  there  would  be  less  trouble  in  removing  her  remains 
from  where  she  then  lay.  Encouragement  to  persevere 
in  defending  the  citadel  of  Protestantism,  mingled  with 
fervent  su})plication  for  her  deluded  countrymen,  and  glow- 
ing anticipations  of  the  rest  upon  which  she  was  about  to 
enter,  occupied  her  latest  breath.  The  last  faint  whisper 
was  one  of  praise  ;  and  the  last  smiling  look  was  bent  on 
poor  old  Shane,  who  could  not  be  persuaded  to  relinquish 
her  hand,  until  its  pulse  had  long  ceased  to  throb.  She 
departed  soon  after  midnight,  as  if  to  verify  the  earnest  whis- 
per  of  Magrath  to  Basil,  that  the  angel  would  rein  in  his 


DERRY. 


186 


horse  to  wait  for  her  spirit,  and  bear  it  around  the  city,  and 
away  to  heaven :  a  thought  which  seemed  to  delight  him 
so  much,  that  the  old  man,  smiling  through  his  tears,  fore- 
bore  to  chock  it,  otherwise  than  by  an  answering  whisper, 
reciting  in  Irish  the  promise  of  Jesus,  "  If  I  go  to  prepare  a 
place  for  you,  I  will  come  again  and  receive  you  unto  my- 
self." Magrath  assented,  but  immediately  quoted  also  the 
passage  which  describes  Lazarus  as  being  carried  by  an- 
gels to  Abraham's  bosom  ;  and  Basil  was  too  much  rejoiced 
at  his  readiness  in  appealing  to  scripture,  to  cavil  at  the 
innocent  and  touching  inference  which  he  delighted  to 
draw. 

The  last  sigh  was  hushed,  the  long  lasli  had  fallen  over 
the  sunken  but  beautiful  cheek,  and  the  chin  was  support- 
ed by  a  ribband,  which  had  confined  her  chesnut  tresses, 
now  straying  over  the  pillow.  Solemn  stillness  reigned, 
broken  sometimes  by  a  stifled  sob  as  recollections  of  past 
days  became  two  powerful  for  entire  restraint ;  and  occa- 
sionally by  a  short  but  fervent  supplication,  offered  in  a 
low  tone,  by  Basil  or  the  Lady,  and  mingled  with  praise. 
Bryan  sat  in  deep,  calm  silence,  gazing  on  the  features 
which,  from  the  day  when  first  he  peeped  into  the  cradle 
to  admire  the  "  new  baby,"  had  been  o{  all  earthly  things 
most  lovely  in  his  sight.  The  short  gloom  of  a  summer 
night  soon  passed  away  :  the  little  lamp  was  extinguished, 
with  that  frugal  care  which  the  deep  poverty  of  the  poor 
succourless  inhabitants  rendered  indispensable  :  and  the 
Sabbath  morning's  golden  hue  crept  round  the  apartment. 
Magrath  arose  to  shade  the  window  with  a  token  of  death } 
and  with  one  consent  the  trembling  voices  of  age,  suffering, 
and  sorrow,  commenced  a  funeral  dirge,  from  the  simple 
melodies  that  had  frequently  cheered  their  hearts  during 
the  long  season  of  wasting  calamity.  Absorbed  in  the 
soothing  employment,  they  marked  not  the  opening  of  the 
door ;  and  on  concluding,  beheld   with   surprise    Colonel 


186  DKRRV. 

Murray  loaning  against  a  j)rojection  of  the  antique  wall, 
gazing  on  the  group,  with  an  expression  of  such  mingled 
pity  and  love,  as  words  could  but  weakly  have  conveyed. 

"Another  deserter  from  our  garrison,^'  said  liryan,  as 
with  a  melancholy  smile  he  ]K)inled  to  the  couch. 

The  Colont.l  advaijced,  and  with  clasped  hands,  bent 
over  it  for  a  moment ;  then  staiiing  aw  ay,  exclaimed,  "  It 
will  not  do ;  we  must  be  men  of  iron  and  rock.  A  few 
more  such  sights  as  this,  M'Alister,  will  nult  us  into  chil- 
dren." 

"  You  wouldn't  say  that,"  uttered  .Maj^rath  reproachfully, 
*'Ifyou(i  ht-ard  thf  cnatun-'s  dying  breath,  telling  us  to 
stand  by  the  last  stone  of  Derry  walls." 

"  Anil  did  she  \  the  beautiful  martyr  :  may  that  lovely 
smile  upon  the  lips  that  sjjoke  such  cheer,  be  prophetic  of 
its  accomplishment !  M'Aliiter  I  came  to  speak  of  death 
and  the  grave,  but  knew  not  of  this.  Baker  will  be  in- 
terred to-day :  you  will,  alas  !  you  must  be  there  ;"  and 
again  he  looked  on  the  corpse,  and  from  that  to  the  Lady, 
until  his  eyes  swam  in  tears. 

"  Grieve  not  for  us,  Colonel,"  she  said,  "  we  share  but 
the  common  woe.  Would  that  every  mourner  equally 
shared  our  abundant  consolations !  We  are  chosen  to  suf- 
fer in  the  cause  of  truth : — May  succeeding  generations 
estimate  the  blessing,  for  the  preservation  of  which  we 
gladly  endure  the  loss  of  all  earthly  things." 

"  Amen,"  he  ejaculated.  "  The  Protestant  cause  is  the 
cause  of  posterity  ;  and  we  are  cementing  with  our  dearest 
blood  bulwarks  which  they  will  value  and  maintain." 

Before  the  sun  had  reached  his  meridian  height,  a  long 
and  mournful  procession  conveyed  to  the  cathedral  the 
mortal  remains  of  Henry  Baker,  in  whom  the  citizens  had 
lost  a  valuable  friend.  He  was  united  with  Walker  in  the 
government  of  Derry,  and  generally  beloved.  A  solemn 
funeral  service  was  performed,  a  sermon  delivered  on  the 


DEREY.  387 

occasion,  and  groups  of  mourners  surrounding  their  respec- 
tive dead,  collected  as  usual  for  interment  near  the  door, 
listened  with  deep  interest  to  a  theme  but  too  widely  ap- 
plicable. Ellen's  bier  was,  by  Murray's  command,  brought 
near  the  governor's ;  and  among  the  haggard  counte- 
nances assembled,  none  excited  more  commiseration  than 
the  venerable  trio  attached  to  it,  Shane,  Basil,  and  the 
Lady  of  M'Alister.  Magrath  voluntarily  accompanied 
them,  and  joined  in  the  service  of  the  Church,  having  ftil- 
filled  his  self-imposed  task  of  digging  a  grave  unusually 
deep,  beside  that  of  the  two  first  victims ;  and  here,  after 
depositing  Baker  in  the  vault,  they  bore  the  corpse  of 
Ellen  to  its  nook  of  peaceful  day. 

On  that  same  day  the  infamous  De  Rossen  srnt  in  his 
peremptory  order  to  surrender  the  town,  before  six  o'clock, 
on  the  ensuing  evening,  on  pain  of  indiscriminate  slaugh* 
ter,  by  fire  and  sword.  It  was  rejected  :  and  he  proceeded 
to  renew  the  bombardment  with  increasing  fury.  This 
producing  no  appearance  of  intimidation  or  fluctuation  in 
the  devoted  little  garrison,  the  Frenchman  had  recourse  to 
an  expedient,  in  the  execution  of  which  he  proved  himself 
an  incarnation  of  the  spirit  of  cruelty ;  a  meet  son  of  her 
who  is  drunken  with  the  blood  of  the  saints. 

On  inquiring  for  his  friend  Ross,  Bryan  ascertained  that 
he  had  been  wounded,  and  was  unable  to  leave  his  bed. 
Repairing  to  him,  he  found  him  under  considerable  ex- 
citement, having  been  assured  that  De  Rosen  had  some 
project  of  cruelty  which  should  overcome  the  obstinate  re- 
sistance of  the  Prostestants.  "  It  is  the  rufhans  boast,  that 
in  Langiiedoc,  he  found  means  to  quell  them,  such  as  had 
never  entered  the  dull  heads  of  English  or  Irish.  Come, 
M'Alister,  promise  me,  helpless  as  I  am,  that  you  will  join 
to  your  own  my  share  of  resolution,  and  stand,  though  it  be 
eingly,  against  every  temptation  to  yield." 

"  My  dear  fellow !  what  is  my  resolution,  and  what 


188  DERBY. 

your  ownl — the  weak,  wavering  flame  of  a  candle,  to  be 
blown  out  by  the  first  breath,  unless  lighted  at  the  altar  of 
divine  love  and  holy  zeal.  For  a  double  portion  of  such 
fire  I  will  pray  :  and  so  far  as  I  know  myself,  I  will  suffer 
martyrdom  rather  than  flinch  from  the  sacred  cause — the 
caust^  that  my  poor  Kllen  cherished  with  her  latest  sigh." 

"  So,  ^o  !  Ellen  too  is  gone  \  Very  good,  and  1  am  glad, 
and  so  ought  you  to  he.  She  will  never  more  A'fl  heat, 
nor  thirst — burning  thirst  like  this" — he  was  evidently  in 
great  torture,  and  his  brain  become  alfecteil. 

"  He  calm,  dear  Ross;  leave  these  agitating  themes,  and 
look  to  the  lord — the  Lamb  who  now  leads  Kllen  to  the 
living  fountains  of  waters  ;  who  is  equally  willing  to  lead 
you  there,  and  to  overade  these  bodily  sutferings,  to  the 
eternal  refreshment  of  your  soul.  ' 

"  1  know  it  :  I  think  of  it  sometimes — often.  Hut  1 
fear  it  is  the  freshness  of  the  cool,  cool  damp  green  pas- 
tures, and  the  bubbling  and  flowing  of  the  delicious  cold 
waters,  that  allure  me.  0,  .M'Alister,  1  fear  it  is  my  rav- 
ing thirst  of  body,  not  the  thirst  of  a  parching  soul,  that 
makes  all  this  so  lovely  ;  for  1  am  dying  under  these 
parching  agonies,  and  no  drop  to  moisten  my  burning 
lips." 

"Try  to  compose  yourself  until  I  return,"  said  his 
friend  ;  and  then  borrowing  a  small  pitch€*r  he  sallied 
forth,  at  the  imminent  peril  of  his  life,  and  filled  it  at  one 
of  the  wells  without  the  gate,  while  the  enemy's  marks- 
men showered  bullets  around  him.  The  furious  bombard- 
ment, just  renewed,  had  polluted  the  water  in  the  town 
to  such  a  degree  that  many  of  the  sick,  like  Ross,  rejected 
the  nauseous  draught,  while  perishing  with  thirst  :  and 
few  had  the  hardihood  to  brave,  on  their  own  behalf,  what 
Bryan  readily  encountered  for  his  friend. 

Ross  quaffed  the  precious  beverage  with  gasping  eager- 
ness, and  lay  down  refreshed. 


DERRY.  189 

"  Now  will  you  hear  of  the  Savior  V 

*'  Ah  yes,  gladly  ;  but  I  fear  that  gratitude  for  the 
water,  love  to  the  friendly  hand  which  brought  it,  will 
predominate  over  better  feelings." 

"  Well,  you  are  right  to  mistrust  yourself:  but  you 
must  not  therefore  reject  the  offered  mercy."  He  then 
spoke,  and  read,  and  prayed  with  the  youth,  and  left  hira 
much  composed.  At  the  door  he  was  met  by  JMagrath, 
who  asked  him,  had  he  heard  the  ^lareschal's  message  1 
and  informed  him  that  the  inhuman  foreigner  had  threat- 
ened to  plunder  all  the  Protestants  in  the  country  round  ; 
and  then  to  drive  them,  men,  women,  and  children,  to 
starve  under  the  walls  of  Derry. 

A  menace  so  barbarous  was  not  to  be  credited  ;  and 
Bryan  found  the  council  preparing  an  answer  expressive 
of  universal  indignation  at  the  threat,  with  the  reiterated 
assurance  that  no  regard  would  be  paid  to  any  proposition 
which  he  could  convey,  on  the  subject  of  surrender.  This 
was  the  unanimous  feeling  of  all  ranks  ;  and  the  message 
was  confirmed  by  hearty  cheers  from  the  walls. 

On  the  following  morning  the  Lady  of  M'Alister  ap- 
peared equipped  for  a  walk.  Bryan  suggested  that  the 
continued  bombardment  rendered  the  streets  unsafe  ;  but 
she  replied,  "  My  child,  I  have  now  no  sacred  task  to 
fulfil  at  home  ;  and  it  becomes  ray  duty  to  devote  the 
remnant  of  strength  to  our  more  helpless  fellows." 

"  But,  dear  mother,  you  can  pray." 

"  And  work  too,  Bryan.  He  who  has  coupled  '  fervent 
in  spirit,'  with  '  not  slothful  in  business,'  will  accept  the 
heart's  prayer,  while  the  feet  and  the  hands  are  occupied 
in  the  service  of  his  poor  aillicted  ones.  — Lead  me  to 
Ross." 

With  secret  gladness  he  obeyed,  and  rejoiced  in  the  de- 
lighted welcome  of  his  friend,  who  received  her  as  a  celes- 
tial visitant.  He  left  her  there,  and  joined  by  Magratb. 
17 


190  PERRY. 

who  had  fulfilled  his  visit  of  morcy  to  the  prisonpre,  he 
mounted  the  walls.  The  celebrated  bulwarks  of  Derry 
consist  of  an  inner  and  an  outer  wall,  the  former  of  which 
is  about  twi'uty  feet  in  thickness,  aJfording  an  excellent 
promenade  ;  the  hcii^ht  of  the  other  varies,  in  some  places 
rising  al)ove  the  stature  of  a  man,  but  generally  not  more 
than  four  feet,  forming  battlements  to  the  inner  one,  to 
which  it  is  united.  Ht»re  then,  thf  besieged  were  wont  to 
array  themselves,  and  employ  their  smaller  fire-arms  with 
such  effect  as  they  could,  to  aid  their  gvms,  planted  on  the 
bastions  and  lines.  Of  th»'S(»  they  had  no  mon-  than 
twenty  tit  ll)r  use,  which,  with  two  stationed  on  the  cathe- 
dral roof,  lormed  the  entire  battery  for  defence  of  the 
town. 

Some  excitement  prevailed  in  that  quarter  to  which 
Bryan  had  repaired  ;  for  a  rising  cloud  of  dust  bespoke 
the  approach  of  a  large  body  of  assailants  ;  and  De  Kosen'a 
threats  had  rendered  them  doubly  watchful.  ''I3e  steady, 
lads,"  said  tlie  officer  in  command,  "  and  givt;  them  a 
proper  greeting,  if  they  advance."  A  line  was  formed, 
the  men  stood  to  their  arms,  and,  the  party  still  drawing 
nearer,  a  volley  was  discharged  into  the  mass.  Screams 
and  cries,  in  the  shrill  voices  of  women  and  children,  with 
the  loud  and  melancholy  tonrs  of  entreaty  from  men, 
pealed  back  instead  of  the  expected  fire  of  musquetry  : 
and  the  smoke  dispersing,  on  a  light  breeze,  and  the  dust, 
abating  from  the  temporary  halt,  a  scene  presented  itself 
— would  it  were  a  vision  of  the  writer's  fancy — but  alas  ! 
no  description  can  do  justice  to  the  appalling  reality  of 
what  has  been  left  on  record  by  eye-witnesses,  then  gaxing 
from  those  walls. 

A  crowd  appeared,  comprising  several  thousands  of 
Protestants — not  captives  taken  in  battle,  but  victims 
dragged  by  force  from  their  peaceful  habitations,  of  whom 
the  great  majority  were  females  of  every  age,  from  ex- 


DERRY.  191 

treme  decrepitude  of  years  to  the  infant  newly  born  ; 
the  rest  were  old  men  and  j'oung  boys,  or  invalids  brought 
from  their  sick-rooms,  with  some  more  vigorous  in  appear- 
ance, seized  in  the  moment  of  unarmed  security,  overpow- 
ered, and  compelled  to  mingle  in  the  wretched  throng.  Half 
naked,  with  bleeding  feet  and  tottering  knees,  they  stag- 
gered on,  raising  their  supplicating  voices  to  the  besieged, 
to  spare  their  helpless  friends  ;  while  the  latter,  in  the 
very  attitude  of  reloading  their  pieces,  stood  petrified 
with  horror,  staring  as  on  some  hideous  vision  which  they 
wished  to  dispel.  It  was,  however,  no  vision  ;  still  the 
crowd  advanced  ;  and  they  might  see  the  rutfian  soldiery 
behind,  violently  pushing  and  goading  with  their  swords, 
the  fainting  forms  that  lingered  last  from  inability  to  pro- 
ceed ;  or  dragging  them  along  the  ground,  to  which  some 
had  fallen. 

The  trance  of  horror  into  which  the  Derry  men  had 
been  surprised  was  of  short  duration ;  and  such  a  yell  of 
frantic  fury  was  perhaps  never  heard  from  human  lips,  as 
then  echoed  from  the  walls.  Faces  pale  and  ghastly  with 
famine,  now  flushed  into  the  deep  hectic  of  rage,  and  not 
a  menace  nor  an  execration  was  left  unuttered,  that  their 
boiling  passions  could  suggest.  For  a  time,  nothing  was 
heard  but  incoherent  invective,  and  threatenings,  till  Mur- 
ray shouted  out  "  a  gallows  !"  and  instantly  a  thousand 
eager  hands  were  at  work,  preparing  the  apparatus  of  ig- 
nominious death,  which  they  erected  within  view  of  the 
enemies'  camp,  for  the  execution  of  the  prisoners  then  in 
their  hands. 

Meanwhile,  the  exhausted  crowds  had  gained  the  walls 
under  which  they  sat  or  fell  down,  wiping  the  starting 
moisture,  and  tears,  and  blood  that  mingled  on  their  faces  ; 
extracting  the  thorns  from  their  blistered  feet,  and  striving 
to  close  the  tattered  garments  that  scarcely  covered  their 
emaciated  frames.       Mothers  clasped  their  infants,  and 


192  DERRY. 

rocked  them  to  and  fro,  moaning  in  answer  to  the  little 
sufferers'  cries,  or  vainly  tried  to  appease  the  clamors  of 
children,  who  screamed  for  drink  and  food.  Young  girls 
were  seen  smothering  their  own  complaints,  though  rack- 
ed with  the  anguish  of  fatigue  and  suffering,  while  busied 
in  contriving  some  little  support  for  the  trembling  head 
of  an  aged  parent ;  or  binding  up  the  wounds  of  a  brother, 
or  relieving  some  fainting  mother  of  her  helpless  babe. 
All  this  was  terrible  to  witness  :  but  when  the  victims 
looked  up  to  those  who  hung  over  the  walls,  and  smiled, 
and  blessed  them  for  their  heroic  fidelity,  it  was  too  much: 
tears  and  sobs  broke  forth  from  many  who  had  endured 
without  a  groan  the  intlictions  of  that  dreadful  siege  ; 
and  the  leading  men  hastened  to  dispatch  a  message  to 
the  general  who  commanded  under  the  hateful  De  Kosen, 
declaring  that  unless  the  fugitives  were  properly  refreshed, 
and  re-conducted  to  their  homes,  the  prisoners  should  be 
immediately  hanged  within  their  view,  including  a  noble- 
man, and  several  officers.  Yet,  with  this  atrocious  exam- 
ple of  religious  persecution  before  their  eyes,  tiuy  added 
a  free  permission,  for  popish  priests  to  enter,  and  prepare 
them  for  their  fate. 

The  captives,  acknowledging  the  strict  justice  of  this 
proceeding,  and  expressing  deep  abhorrence  at  the  deed  of 
De  Rosen,  wrote  an  imploring  letter  to  their  general,  to 
save  them  from  a  disgraceful  death  by  his  compliance,  but 
in  vain.  The  Frenchman  was  inexorable,  and  left  them 
to  their  fate,  merely  signifying  that  their  death  would  be 
revenged  on  the  defenceless  multitude.  The  sentence 
was  not  carried  into  execution,  but  every  possible  method 
was  taken  to  relieve  the  sufferers,  who  on  the  following 
day  were  joined  by  another  thousand  in  similar  circum- 
stances. 

There  was  not  a  person  in  Derry,  able  to  move,  who 
did  not  seem  to  lose  the  sense  of  every  privation,  in  the 


DERRY.  193 

all-absorbing  sentiment  of  indignant  pity.  Many  climbed 
the  walls,  whom  age  or  sickness  had  apparently  disabled 
from  walking  the  street,  and  some  were  seen  to  drop  their 
own  scant}'  morsel  of  food,  or  change  of  clothing,  in  the 
laps  of  such  as  seemed  perishing  for  help.  Recognitions 
the  most  heart-rending  took  place,  while  those  on  the 
walls  discerned  in  some  bleeding  famishing  creature  be- 
neath, a  sister,  a  parent,  a  child — sometimes  a  wife  or  hus- 
band. Distressed  as  was  the  garrison,  it  became  necessary 
to  prohibit,  under  severe  penalties,  the  reception,  and 
even  the  relief,  of  those  over  whom  all  hearts  yearned  ; 
but  the  pleadings  of  natural  affection  overcame  both  fear 
and  prudence,  and  many  were  admitted,  fed,  and  clothed, 
during  the  night.  Among  these,  one  amply  recompensed 
the  mercy  shown,  by  delivering  a  message  from  the  fleet, 
directing  that  in  case  of  great  extremity,  two  fires  should 
be  lighted  on  the  church.  The  beacons  were  immediate- 
ly ignited,  and  plentifully  fed,  that  their  blaze  might 
reach  the  ships  with  a  silent  tale  of  unparalleled  distresses. 


IV 


CHAPTER  XII. 


Tin;  ^iirrisnn  of  Di-rry  was  now  rtMlucfd  to  less  than  six 
thousand  ;  and  within  the  walls  were  many  rondcrcd  use- 
less by  ago  or  debility,  but  assisting  to  consume  its  scanty 
Btore  of  provisions ;  while  under  its  battlements  there  lay 
some  hundreds  of  comparatively  able  men.  It  was  propos- 
ed by  several  of  the  formcrthat  they  should  steal  (jut  nnd'^r 
cover  of  the  night,  and  their  places  be  supplied  by  the  lat- 
ter. The  most  afllictcd  of  the  Protestants  without,  had  re- 
monstrated against  receiving  that  help  which  the  besieged 
could  so  ill  spare  :  and  the  voice  of  tender  compassion 
from  above,  was  often  answered  from  below  in  terms  of 
cheering  encouragement,  from  those  who  lay  dying.  Many 
a  sublime  instance  of  devotion  to  the  righteous  cause  was 
long  recounted  to  the  children's  children  of  the  martyrs  : 
and  when  the  above-mentioned  proposition  was  communi- 
cated, they  united  in  assisting  to  single  out  the  stoutest  of 
their  party,  to  the  number  of  five  hundred,  while  as  many 
from  within  prepared  to  take  their  places. 

It  was  a  night  of  partings  in  Derry  ;  and  often  the  half- 
stifled  cry  of  agony  broke  forth,  as  the  voluntary  victims 
crossed  their  threshold,  to  place  themselves  in  the  imme- 
diate power  of  their  deadliest  foes ;  and  still  the  question 
will  present  itself.  Why  did  they  thus  suffer  1  What 
nerved  the  citizens  of  this  diminutive  fortress  even  to  the 


DERRY.  195 

endurance  of  death  in  every  shape,  rather  than  surrender 
it  1  The  answer  is  obvious :  they  knew  the  unspeakable 
value  of  that  Protest  from  which  they  derived  their  very 
name ;  that  solemn  abjuration  of  an  antichrislian  heresy, 
wherein  consists  the  getting  of  '  the  victory  over  the 
Beast,  and  over  his  image,  and  over  his  mark,  and  over  the 
number  of  his  name'* — the  maintenance  of  that  pure  and 
spotless  faith,  which  loathes  the  ways  of  spiritual  unclean- 
ness.  They  trusted  that  the  privilege  which  they  individu- 
ally enjoyed,  would,  througli  their  constancy,  be  confirm- 
ed as  a  national  blessing ;  and  that  the  bulwarks  of  their 
citadel  should  typify  an  impregnable  defence,  to  be  reared 
around  the  altar  and  the  throne,  to  guard  alike  the  palace 
and  the  hovel.  They  succeeded,  and  the  walls  of  Derry 
yet  stand  a  venerable  monument  of  its  incorruptible  de- 
fenders. Shall  we  go  on  ?  Shall  we  ask,  where  are  now 
the  national  barriers  ]  Gone.  The  adamantine  bulwarks 
were  undermined,  and  crumbled,  and  those  who  prostrated 
them  are  building  a  wall,  and  daubing  it  with  untempered 
mortar.  But  let  them  look  to  it,  for  the  great  hailstones 
are  beginning  to  fall,  and  England  will  yet  learn  that  it  is 
an  evil  thing  and  a  bitter,  to  forsake  the  living  God,  who 
will  not  brook  the  Bab3'lonian  vest,  however  goodly  in 
man's  eyes. 

The  voice  of  fervent  supplication  rose  around  the  Pro- 
testant city,  for  those  who  manned  its  walls ;  and  with  it 
the  pleading  of  intercession  for  tlie  deluded  agents  of  a 
foreigner's  cruelty.  The  victims  said  that  the  Irish  offi- 
cers had  shed  tears  over  their  miseries  ;  and  that  General 
Hamilton,  in  defiance  of  his  tyrant  commander,  had  given 
them  provisions  on  their  passage  through  his  camp.  In- 
deed, deeply  as  were  the  native  troops  embrued  in  kindred 
blood,  this  unprecedented  act  of  barbarity  towards  their 
countrymen,  on  the  part  of  a  French  intruder,  united  them 

•  Rev.  xr.  2. 


196  DERRT. 

iu  a  feeling  of  detestation  against  him,  and  prevented  that 
zealous  co-operation  wliich  would  have  rendered  the  safety 
of  Derry  a  linmaa  impossilnlity.  This  the  sullerers  did  not 
fail  to  remark  to  their  friends  on  tlie  walls,  rejoicing  that 
their  wrongs  would  be  overruled  to  the  promotion  of  their 
ultimate  triumph. 

On  that  mournful  night  the  home  of  M'Alister  presented 
signs  of  participation  in  what  was  going  on.  Nothing  had 
been  said  ;  but  Basil,  after  tottering  to  the  walls  and  hold- 
ing converse  with  some  individuals  below,  returmd  to  ga- 
ther up  his  little  bundle  of  necessaries,  and  with  tearful 
eyes  gazed  on  the  Lady,  who  sate  in  melancholy  silence, 
while  Bryan  and  Magrath  held  a  whispering  conversation 
near  the  window.  They  approached,  and  Basil  said,  "  Un- 
der this  liospitable  and  blessed  roof  let  me  once  more  ren- 
der praises  to  the  Lord  who  brought  nie  hither,  and  com- 
mend to  his  grace  tho<:e  w  ho  yet  remain."  They  joined 
him  in  his  prayer,  wliich  flowed  in  a  strain  of  devotional 
joy  and  hope,  well  fitted  to  cht?er  their  spirits.  "  And 
now,"  he  said,  on  rising,  "  farewell  for  a  little,  a  very  little 
space,  until  we  meet  in  our  Father's  dwelling." 

While  exchanging  tlu'ir  tearful  adieu,  they  were  startled 
to  behold  Shane  O'Connogher  issue  from  his  little  cell, 
equipped  for  departure  ;  while  his  countenance  left  no 
room  to  doubt  that  it  Wiis  a  final  one.  With  earnest  ex- 
postulation Bryan  approached,  and  the  Lady  united  her 
remonstrances :  but,  hiding  his  face,  the  old  man  called 
upon  ^Nlagrath  to  state  his  reason  for  accompanying  Basil. 

"  Sure  and  I  will,  uncle  dear,  and  the  Lord  strengthen 
ye!  It's  the  Irish,  my  Lady,  that  has  warmed  his  old 
heart,  and  he  cannot  'bide  without  it." 

"  The  blessed  Word,"  said  Shane  ;  "  the  story  o'  pace, 
it's  what  I  can't  leave.  And  it's  he  that  has  the  comfort- 
ing words  that  keep  me  looking  to  my  Savior.  Och  !  but 
it's  many  a  long  year  that  ye  prayed  over  me,  and  wasn't 


DERRY.  197 

weary,  though  I  grieved  ye  sorely :  but  he  was  sent,  and 
my  heart  opened  at  the  sound  of  the  tongue  :  and  I  can't 
part  with  him." 

"  And  can  you  part  with  us,  Shane  1" 

"Don't,  Master  Bryan  dear,  don't  ye  ask  me.  'Ti» 
duty,  and  God  gives  me  help,  and  comfort  in  it.  We'll 
be  meeting  again,  avourneen  :  with  them  and  with  her. 
It's  I  that  couldn't  sit  and  look  on  the  empty  chairs. 
May-be  I'd  get  dark,  and  anger  the  Lord.  It's  the  cross. 
Master  Bryan,  and  who  hasn't  it  now  1" 

"  He  is  right,"  said  the  Lady  with  a  deep  sigh. 

"  Come,  brother  pilgrim,"  exclaimed  Basil,  "  let  us  go 
forth  without  the  camp." 

Magrath  stood  by,  frowning  most  sternly,  and  making 
every  grimace  that  could  sers'e  to  hide  the  workings  of 
emotion.  Basil's  Irish  Bible  was  in  his  hand,  and  he 
grasped  it  with  tenacious  affection  :  but  now  held  it  out  to 
its  owner. 

"  Keep  it  Magrath." 

"  Me  !  I  wouldn't  rob  you  of  it  for  fifty  thousand  worlds," 
he  exclaimed  with  extreme  warmth. 

"  I'm  glad  you  know  it's  worth  to  be  so  priceless ;  but  I 
cannot  lose  what  you  may  gain  :  for  I  have  it  stored  in  my 
memory  ;  and  the  book  itself  would  be  taken  from  me  by 
the  foe." 

"  Then,"  said  Magrath,  "  give  me  your  blessing  with 
it." 

"  God  bless  thee,  my  son !  The  Lord  has  evidently 
given  the  promise  which  is  never  revoked.  May  the  day- 
star  brightly  shine,  where  already  day  has  dawned,  in  thy 
heart.  May  thy  life  be  the  life  of  faith,  and  thine  end, 
peace !" 

"  Amen  !"  was  the  simultaneous  response. 

But  it  was  difficult  to  get  Shane  away  from  his  Lady  : 
he  sobbed,  and  seemed  to  lose  all  resolution.    Magrath  whis- 


198  DEREY. 

pored,  and  he  regained  it  in  some  measure,  while  makjog 
the  parting  request  that  they  would  take  young  Mr.  Roes 
into  the  house,  and  nurse  him,  and  teach  Itim  in  the 
right  way. 

Supported  hy  Bryan  and  Magrath,  the  old  men  gained 
the  walls  ;  and  were  presently  slipped  into  the  crowd  with- 
out ;  while  several  stout  young  follows  stole  in  at  the  half- 
opened  gate. 

"  rU  stay  and  look  after  tliem,"  said  Magrath  :  "  go,  i>ir, 
and  fetch  Mr.  Ross  home." 

Bryan  felt  the  excellence  of  this  arrangement,  and  fully 
appreciated  the  motive  that  suggessed  it.  He  found  Ross^ 
to  his  surprise,  prepared  for  the  removal ;  and  a  bier  in 
readiness  to  convey  him,  beside  which  he  walked,  recount- 
ing what  had  occured,  and  describing  the  self  devotion  of 
the  poor  creatures  under  the  walls.  "  They  tell  us  to 
look  on  their  sulTerings,  not  as  an  inducement  to  surren- 
der, but  as  a  warning  sent  by  heaven  to  show  us  the  con- 
sequences of  trusting  such  perfidious  foes  ;  for  scarcely 
one  among  them  but  has  James  Stuart's  protection.  Seve- 
ral expired  yesterday  in  the  very  act  of  encouraging  us; 
and  indeed  it  has  nerved  us  all  to  desperation." 

"  How  did  Magrath  behave  ?" 

"  Like  a  madman  at  first :  tried  to  tear  stones  from  the 
wall  to  hurl  at  the  ruflians.  On  the  suggestion  of  the  gal- 
lows, he  darted  away,  and  was  foremost  in  that  work  ;  but 
when  I  spoke  of  the  deed  as  emanating  from  a  foreigner, 
and  he  heard  Lord  Netterville  justify  us  in  hanging  him 
and  his  companions,  his  feelings  took  a  less  violent  turn  ; 
at  least,  the  whole  tide  of  his  indignation  set  in  against  De 
Rosen,  his  French  troops,  and  their  religion." 

"  Aye,  this  is  popery  unmasked  to  some  purpose,"  said 
Ross,  "  and  worth  all  your  controversy." 

"  Our  controversy,  however,  in  directing  his  attention 
through  the  produce  of  the  tree,  to  the  root,  paved  a  way 


TERRY.  199 

for  an  application  of  the  event,  which  few,  I  fear,  of  his 
former  party  will  think  of  making." 

When  the  day  was  a  little  advanced,  many  citizens 
thronged  the  walls,  in  hope  of  discovering  among  the  mul- 
titude below  some  beloved  relative,  who  had  participated 
in  the  voluntary  exile  of  the  preceding  night ;  but  careful- 
ly avoided  any  sign  of  recognition,  lest  the  watchful  foe 
might  detect  the  arrangement.  They  did,  indeed,  accuse 
the  garrison  of  forming  such  intention :  but  failed  to  dis- 
cover its  success,  although,  with  insulting  mockery,  they 
passed  among  the  shrinking  victims,  smelling  to  their  gar 
ments,  and  declaring  that  they  should  identify  the  Derry 
people  by  the  ill  savor  resulting  from  their  wretched  mode 
of  existence.  For,  not  only  had  their  dwellings  been  im- 
pregnated by  the  sulphureous  effluvia  of  the  shells  con- 
tinually bursting,  which  also  rendered  the  water  unfit  for 
cleansing  their  linen,  but  they  were  now  reduced  to  sub- 
sist on  the  flesh  of  dogs,  cats,  and  rats  ;  on  tallow,  greaves, 
and  every  description  of  offal  that  famine  could  compel  it- 
self to  swallow.  The  extreme  length  of  the  town  being 
but  three  hundred  paces,  and  its  greatest  breadth  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty,  some  conception  may  be  formed,  even  by 
those  who  have  not  seen  it,  of  the  dreadful  effects  produc- 
ed on  the  health  of  its  inmates,  by  a  contest  already  of 
seven  months'  continuance  ;  during  the  last  ten  weeks  of 
which  their  rest  had  been  broken,  their  houses  shattered, 
their  friends  slain,  the  water  polluted,  and  the  air  poison- 
ed, by  the  almost  incessant  explosion  of  shells  in  the 
streets,  three  hundred  and  fort}'  having  been  thrown  in,  to 
that  date.  To  this  we  must  add  the  horrible  circumstance 
of  dead  bodies  being  frequently  torn  up  from  the  grave, 
by  the  same  destructive  engines  ;  and  the  devastating  na- 
ture of  the  pestilence  which  was  carrying  off  the  inhabi- 
tants in  augmented  numbers  every  day.  It  becomes  a 
matter  of  increasing  astonishment  that  human  nature  could 


200  PERRY. 

endure  such  varied  and  protracted  sufl'erings  :  if  we  refer 
it  to  dread  of  the  infuriated  enemy,  what  shall  we  say  of 
those  who  vohintarily  placed  themselves  in  their  power, 
for  the  sole  purpose  of  relieving  and  strengthening  the  gar- 
rison within  ?  That  party  spirit  actuated  its  defenders  is 
palpably  false  in  the  eyes  of  every  one  who  considers  the 
circumstances  ;  for  when  did  the  overflowings  of  party 
zeal  produce  efTects  in  any  way  comparable  to  those  so 
faintly  described  in  these  pages  !  Men  of  rescjlute  minds, 
or  of  very  excitable  passions,  have  been  known,  imiier  the 
influence  of  ambition  or  revenge,  to  sacrifice  present  ad- 
vantage, to  hazard  fortune  and  character,  perhaps  even  to 
peril  life  itself  in  pursuit  of  that  wherein  they  had  embark- 
ed as  avowed  partizans :  but  when  did  the  demon  of  fac- 
tion so  influence  a  mingled  and  motley  crowd,  comprising 
both  sexes  and  every  grade  of  rank,  that  with  one  heart 
and  one  hand  they  should  combine  to  immolate  upon  his  al- 
tar all  that  endears  existence,  all  that  makes  it  desirable,  all 
that  even  renders  it  supportable,  and  then  to  pine  and 
waste  away  in  the  protracted  agonies  of  a  most  lingering 
death  1  We  must  look  far  higher,  for  a  motive  capable 
of  producing  acts  of  such  extraordinary  devotion  ;  and 
vain  will  be  the  search  if  we  stop  short  of  that  high  and 
holy  principle  which  has,  in  all  ages,  nerved  to  super-hu- 
man endurance  sincere  professors  of  the  true  iaith,  when 
called  on  to  resist  the  rulers  of  the  darkness  of  this  world. 
The  Huguenots  of  France,  the  early  confessors  of  the  Pied- 
montese  vallies,  bear  witness  to  the  all-conquering  power 
of  this  divine  principle,  which  so  overcame  in  them,  that 
they  loved  not  their  lives  unto  the  death,  but  willingly 
partook  the  cup  of  martyrdom,  aggravated  as  it  was  by  adl 
that  the  craft  of  Satan  and  the  cruelty  of  man  could  wring 
into  its  overflowing  bitterness.  To  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  and 
to  him  alone,  ascribe  we  all  the  glory  of  that  endurance 
which  the  Protestants  of  lb 88-9  were  enabled  to  manifest 


DERRY.  201 

under  their  fiery  trials :  in  so  doing  we  detract  not  from 
their  well  earned  meed  of  pitying  admiration,  but  crown 
them  with  a  wreath  more  glorious  than  all  the  unhallowed 
trophies  that  deck  the  vaunted  heroes  of  old  Greece  and 
Rome.  Shame  and  confusion  of  face  belong  to  us,  while 
we  contemplate  the  deeds  and  the  sufferings  of  those  con- 
fessors, contrasting  with  them  our  own  unfaithful  and  sin- 
ful connivance  at  the  rapid  growth  of  the  overspreading 
abomination  which  they  died  to  oppose.  Will  they  not 
rise  up  in  the  judgment  with  this  generation,  and  con- 
demn it  1 

Magrath  had  succeeded  in  finding  a  spot  on  the  wall  of 
Derry,  where,  on  bending  forward,  he  had  a  full  view  of  his 
uncle  and  Basil,  who  sate  at  some  little  distance  from  each 
other,  amid  a  group  of  most  desolate-looking  creatures,  one 
of  whom  was  evidently  about  to  enter  eternity.  The  dy- 
ing woman  lay  with  her  head  reclined  on  the  knees  of  a 
companion  ;  while  her  eyes  fixed  on  Basil,  with  a  charac- 
ter of  earnest,  deep  attention,  only  wandered  occasionally 
to  the  wan  countenance  of  a  little  babe,  which  had,  appa- 
rently, not  many  days  before  been  added  to  the  number  of 
those  helpless  sufferers.  The  old  man  spoke  in  English ; 
and  his  earnest  though  tremulous  tones  frequently  rose 
above  the  discordant  sounds  that  pained  the  dying  ear,  ge- 
nerally drowning  the  voice  of  pity  and  the  accent  of 
prayerful  supplication.  Complaint  was  rarely  heard,  ex- 
cept from  children  too  young  to  stifle  their  lamentations,  or 
when  a  wail  of  agony  burst  over  the  closed  eye  of  some 
endeared  connection  ;  or,  more  painful  yet,  when  the  ma- 
niac laugh  and  scream  told  a  tale  of  woe,  that  reason  itself 
had  given  way  under  the  pressure  of  unmitigated  suffer- 
ings of  body  and  mind  :  but  there  were  shouts  of  exulta- 
tion from  the  foe,  and  bitter  jests  uttered  in  their  own  for- 
eign tongue  by  invaders,  too  generally  lost  to  every  feel- 
ing of  humanity ;  mingled  with  bursts  of  indignant  re- 
18 


202  DERBY. 

proachon  the  part  of  many  who  bent  from  the  walls,  white 
the  accustomed  storm  of  bombs  abated  nothing  of  its  fury, 
twenty-eight  of  th(we  destructive  missiles  being  cast  into 
the  city  on  that  day. 

Magrath  gazed  for  awhile  from  his  rlevatitl  position,  and 
then  shifti'd  it  a  little  to  approach  a  group  u|x>n  whoee 
wretclu'dnrss  a  party  of  the  enemy  sto«xl  gazing,  and  evi- 
dently animadverting.  Some  French  soldiers  were  talking 
fast  and  loud,  their  tones  besfn-aLing  much  of  mocking  le- 
vity ;  while  several  native  Irish,  with  scowling  looks,  sur- 
veyed thi'ir  allifs,  uttt-ring  in  thfir  own  tongue  remarkt 
that  seemed  by  no  means  favorable  to  tne  latter. 

It  was  not  luiusual  for  individuals  among  the  bt^ieged  to 
hold  parley  with  stragglers  who  came  under  their  walls  ; 
and  Magrath,  seeing  ihem  within  a  favorable  di.stance,  ap- 
proached his  countrymen  near  enough  to  ascertain  the  «ub- 
ject  of  their  discourse. 

"  To  be  sure,"  said  one,  in  reply  to  a  comrade's  obser* 
vation,  "  we  have  alwavs  done  our  best  to  rid  the  country 
of  the  heretic  brood  ;  and  good  reason  for  it.  The  land  is 
our  own,  and  we've  a  right  to  recover  it,  and  to  see  our 
holy  church  restored  to  lier  ancient  glory ;  hut  what 
brought  these  fellows  over  to  show  their  impertinence 
herel" 

"  They  came  to  help  us,"'  observe<i  another. 

"  Help  us !  sure  there  has  been  no  luck  since  they  came. 
Does  not  the  old  wall  stand  as  fast  as  ever  ?  and  does  the 
Frenchman  suppose  it  will  fall  down  with  the  cries  of  those 
perishing  creatures  beneath  it  1" 

"The  starving  heretics,"  remarked  a  third,  "will  only 
become  more  obstinate  by  seeing  what  sort  of  usage  they 
should  get  from  him.  Any  way,  they  can  but  die  ;  and 
better  among  their  friends  within  yonder,  than  to  be  mock- 
ed at  in  their  last  agonies  by  those  booted  baboons." 

"  That's  a  true  word,  my   lad,"  said  Magrath,  bending 


DERRY.  203 

over  the  ramparts  where  he  leaned.  "Starving  we  are,  no 
doubt ;  and  yourselves  have  no  great  feast  to  boast  of,  if  all 
were  spoken  honestly." 

"  Troth,  no ;  "  answered  the  former  speaker.  "  We  are 
short  enough  ;  but  'tis  merit  to  suffer  in  the  cause  of  reli- 
gion, to  root  out  heresy,  and  recover  our  fathers'  inheri- 
tance.' 

"  You  are  likely  to  have  all  the  merit,"  observed  Ma- 
grath,  '"and  your  allies  all  the  rest.  They  don't  look  so 
hungry  as  yourselves,  and  I  am  doubtful  whether  they 
mean  to  hand  over  the  country  to  you  when  they've  had 
the  glory  of  conquering  it  for  ye." 

This  speech  produced  the  effect  anticipated :  his  hearers 
burst  into  indignant  invective,  and  one  exclaimed,  "'Tis 
ourselves  that  can  conquer  it  far  better  without  them. 
Haven't  they  taken  command  over  the  heads  of  our  best 
leaders ^  Isn't  General  Hamilton  overlooked  and  affionted 
every  day  ?  Does  not  our  provision  go  to  pamper  the  for- 
eigners, while  we  are  kept  starving,  and  kicked  about 
like  dogs,  if  we  do  but  growl  over  our  wrongs  1" 

"  Fair  and  softly,"  said  Magrath.  "  You  ought  to  con- 
sider that  these  gentlemen  made  their  terms  before  coming 
here,  and  who  can  blame  them  for  looking  to  their  own 
share  in  the  bargain  \  It  is  but  reasonable  to  make  room 
for  themselves  before  they  send  for  their  families;  and 
you'll  not  catch  a  dancing  Frenchman  building  a  house 
where  he  can  find  one  ready  furnished  to  his  hands.  Now 
here,"  pointing  to  a  crowd  of  suff'erers  who  lay  round, 
"here  is  the  French  manner  of  serving  ejectments  on 
troublesome  tenants.  Many  a  nice  little  dwelling-house  and 
patch  of  land  is  left  vacant  by  turning  these  out ;  and  being 
convenient  to  the  coast,  you  see,  'tis  all  the  better.  Our 
town,  when  they  get  it,  will  be  a  famous  key  tp  the  whole 
Island  ;  and  as  to  starving  a  few  thousand  of  ye,  boys,  or 
putting  you  forward,  in  our  way,  when  we  take  the  air  on 


204  DERRT. 

a  sally,  its  perfectly  natural,  for  it  leaves  more  room  in  the 
land.  Don't  be  severe  on  your  friends,  nor  expect  they'll 
fight  your  battles  for  nothint^."  And  so  sayinji;,  he  with- 
drew from  the  wall,  leaving  his  countrymen  to  vent  as  they 
nii<^ht  the  indignant  fei'lings  to  whicli  he  had  added  no 
small  degree  of  ixjignancy  hy  his  ironical  iiardngiu-. 

It  was,  indeed,  unspeakably  galling  to  the  native  Irish, 
particularly  to  their  otlicers,  to  witness  the  increasing  ar- 
rogance of  the  Mareschal  and  his  troops ;  wliose  general  de- 
portment was  such  as  to  justify  the  surmises  expressed  by 
Magralh,  and  secretly  i-nterlaint-d  by  many  of  those  who 
hailed  them  as  allies,  and    fought  under  their  command. 

The  recent  act  of  outrage  apjieared  too  barbarous,  even 
in  the  eyes  of  those  who  had  not  scriiplcd  to  conmiit  atro- 
cities equally  cruel  in  the  prosecution  of  that  unnatural 
warfare :  but  the  latter  had  been  perpetrated  on  a  small 
scale,  individuals,  or  at  most  single  familir s,  having  been 
the  victims  of  their  murderous  animosity  ;  while  the  dread- 
ful aggregate  of  human  suffering  ]>resented  to  their  eyes, 
under  the  wholesale  system  of  De  Rosen,  assumed  an  as- 
pect of  horror  not  recognized  before.  Added  to  this,  a  se- 
cret jealousy,  a  sym|)alhy  which  in  the  case  nf  Jicretics 
they  were  loth  to  confess,  even  to  themselves,  whispered 
that  the  sufferers  were  their  countrj-men,  the  aggressors  for- 
eign intruders ;  and  national  pride  was  roused  to  resent 
what  bore  the  aspict  of  national  insult. 

By  such  means,  division  was  wrought  in  the  advene 
camp  ;  and  no  small  degree  of  perpkxity  harassed  the 
impatient  commander,  who  experienced  its  efTecls  without 
being  able  to  apply  a  remedy  to  evils  to  which  he  was 
unused,  and  which  indeed  were  in  their  very  nature  irre- 
mediable. "  No  weapon  that  is  formed  against  thee  shall 
prosper,"  is  the  gracious  assurance  given  to  God's  perse- 
cuted people  ;  and  he  has  a  thousand  w  ays  of  rendering 
ineffectual  the  most  skilful  devices  of  their  foes. 


DEKRY.  205 

The  fourth  of  July  found  de  Rosen  in  a  situation  far 
from  enviable :  the  half  suppressed  murmurs  cf  his  Irish 
confedrratos  were  rising  into  tlireats  of  open  insurrection, 
on  behalf  of  their  tortured  countrymen.  The  professing 
Protestants,  who  had  disgraced  their  calling  by  co-operatioix 
w^ith  the  Popish  army,  and  who  were  chiefly  men  of  in- 
fluence, put  no  restraint  on  their  angry  feelings,  but  in- 
veighed most  bitterly  against  the  unprecedented  insult  of 
fared  to  their  nominal  faith,  and  the  scandalous  violation  of 
all  that  man  could  deem  binding  on  his  fellow-man  ;  for  the 
greater  number  of  De  Rosen's  victims  had  James  Stewart's 
proti'ction  in  their  pockets.  The  Popish  officers,  as  we 
have  seen,  shrunk  from  indcntifying  themselves  with  the 
perpetrators  of  tin;  outrage :  and  their  feelings  were  res- 
ponded to  by  the  native  soldiers.  When  the  Mareschal 
looked  upon  his  motley  camp,  he  could  not  but  perceive 
that  elements  where  there  at  work,  which  threatened  a  seri- 
ous explosion ;  and  on  turning  his  eye  towards  Derry  he  be- 
held the  appalling  ai)paratus  still  displayed — the  gallows 
on  which  Lord  Netterville  and  his  companions  were  to 
terminate  theirearthly  course,  in  full  view  of  their  former 
associates  and  followers.  Yet  all  this,  it  is  probable,  would 
have  failed  to  turn  the  foreign  General  horn  his  purpose,  and 
under  the  walls  of  Derry  those  four  thousand  Protestants 
might  have  perished  by  famine,  w  hile  above  i*s  ramparts 
the  bones  of  his  captured  comrades  had  whitened  on  a  gib- 
bet, if  he  could  have  farther  calculated  on  the  countenance 
of  the  unhappy  king  whose  cause  he  had  been  sent  to  up- 
hold. 

But  James  was  not  sufliciently  divested  of  humanity  to 
concur  in  the  dreadful  project  of  the  Mareschal.  On  being 
made  acquainted  with  his  cruel  order,  the  monarch  dis- 
patched a  letter  condemnatory  of  the  proceeding,  and 
strongly  protesting  against  it.  The  receipt  of  this  com- 
munication left  De  Rosen  under  a  responsibility  too 
18* 


206  bERBY. 

■weighty  to  bo  incurred  ;  and  after  some  delay,  he  reluct- 
antly issued  the  order  for  driving  the  poor  captives  back  to 
their  homes. 

This  command  was  haih-d  with  joy  by  many  who  had 
often  been  tlie  ready  instruments  of  persecution,  but  whcae 
bosoms  werf  melted  by  tl>e  piteous  sp«'ctacle  brfore  their 
eyes  ;  and  by  them  it  was  communicatrd  to  the  men  of 
Derry,  who  mounted  the  walls  to  take  a  last  farewell  of 
their  fellow  sufferers,  mid  to  exchange  one  parting  look 
with  many  a  dear  connection,  who  had  mingled  stcretly 
with  the  crowd  below.  The  enemy  this  day  were  liberal 
of  their  ammunition,  sending  into  the  town  a  number  of 
bombs  much  larger  than  those  fired  on  the  five  preceding 
days  :  but  these  missiles  appeared  to  have  lost  the  power 
of  intiniidaling  even  the  weakest,  where  death  in  such  va- 
riety of  terrible  forms  continually  crossed  their  path.  In- 
deed, it  became  with  many  a  matter  of  cool  calculation,  or 
a  topic  of  desperate  levity,  in  what  manner  tlu-y  were 
likely  to  quit  the  world  before  another  sun  should  set  or 
rise.  When,  therefore,  it  was  known  that  a  movement 
had  commenced  among  th»'ir  friends  without,  non*'  were 
deterred  from  hastening  to  the  walls,  who  had  j>ower  yet 
left  to  mount  them. 

The  Lady  of  jM'Alister,  supported  by  Brv'an  and  Ma- 
grath,  was  among  the  number  who  succeeded  in  ascending 
those  impregnable  ramparts  ;  and  melancholy  beyond  de- 
scription was  the  scene  displayed.  Hundreds  had  already 
died  upon  the  spot,  and  now,  when  the  welcome  sound  of 
home  saluted  their  ears,  many  were  seen  rising  eagerly 
from  the  earth,  only  to  fall  again  in  helpless  debility,  be- 
neath the  overpowering  burden  of  famine  and  disease. 
Of  these,  some  in  the  wild  eagerness  of  that  hope  which 
will  cling  even  to  a  shadow,  essayed  to  crawl  along  on 
their  hands  and  feet ;  while  others  even  rolled  in  the  di- 
rection to  which   their  hearts  pointed.     Many  in  meek 


DERRY.  207 

submission  to  the  divine  will  gave  over  the  attempt,  after 
a  faint  struggle  or  two  ;  and  greeting  with  audible  blessings 
the  departing  footsteps  of  their  comrades,  resigned  them- 
selves to  the  approach  of  a  lingering  death  where  they 
lay.  And  there  were  partings,  characterized  by  such 
ebullitions  of  violent  feeling  as  wrung  the  hearts  of  many 
whose  overflowing  portion  of  private  sorrow  might  have 
been  expected  to  render  them  heedless  of  all  besides  :  such 
a  spectacle  was  displayed  immediately  under  the  spot 
where  the  Lady  of  M'A lister  bent  to  survey  the  scene. 

A  woman  of  interesting  appearance,  the  remains  of 
whose  garments  bespoke  that  gentility  to  which  her  lan- 
guage also  bore  witness,  was  compelled  to  give  over  her 
attempts  at  rising  from  a  rude  couch,  spread  by  some  com- 
passionate hands  for  her  accommodation.  A  girl,  appa- 
rently about  eighteen  years  old,  stood  near,  gazing  in  silent 
anguish  on  her  parent,  while  three  children  of  tender  age 
were  using  all  their  artless  rhetoric  to  rouse  the  sutterer 
into  renewed  exertions. 

"  AVe  are  going  home,  mother  dear,"  said  the  elder  of 
the  three  j  "  and  you  will  be  well  when  once  you  see  our 
pretty  home  again." 

"  Ah,  mother,"  added  a  little  boy,  somewhat  younger, 
*'  the  smell  of  the  roses,  and  the  sweet  honeysuckle  over 
the  porch,  will  be  so  nice  after  this  place.  The  gunpowder 
and  the  noise  of  these  naughty  men,  have  made  you  sick — 
home  will  make  you  well  again." 

"  I  want  to  go  home,"  sobbed  out  a  little  creature,  who 
clung  to  her  mother's  neck,  attempting  to  raise  her. 

"Kathleen  will  take  you  home,  my  darlings,"  answered 
the  poor  mother. 

"  But  you  must  come  too." 

"  Yes,  I  shall  go  home,  my  children  ;  but  not  to  the  one 
you  are  returning  to." 

"  Then  we'll  go  with  you,  dear  mother,  to  the  other 
home,"  said  the  little  boy. 


208  DERBY. 

"No,  not  now,  Robert:  but  if  you  love  the  Lord  and 
pray  to  be  among  the  Lambs  of  the  Good  Shepherd,  you 
will  come  to  me  in  that  pleasant  home  where  I  am  to  en- 
ter first. ' 

"  Oh  then  you  are  going  to  die,  mother !  Vou  must 
not  die  —you  must  not  leave  us  ;"  and  with  cries  of  grief 
and  terror  each  little  voice  repeated  the  words  ;  adding 
such  entreaties,  mingled  with  terms  of  endearment  and 
tender  reproach,  that  the  parent's  natural  feelings  seemed 
for  a  while  to  overpower  even  the  working  of  divine  grace 
in  her  soul.  She  groaned  with  anguish  of  spirit,  and  ex- 
claimed, "Oh,  Kathleen,  t;ik''  them  hence  —  h-ave  me, 
leave  me!" 

Kathleen  bent  over  with  an  aspt-ct  ol  ttiirli-ss  dtspair, 
and  in  a  smothered  voice,  answered,  ''Mother,  I  cannot." 

"  You  must,"'  said  a  voice  from  the  wall,  so  deep,  so  un- 
earthly in  its  tone,  that  all  who  heard  it  turned  involunta- 
rily towards  the  speaker, 

Kathleen  started  :  the  mother  raised  her  eyes  to  the  spot, 
clasping  her  hands,  but  neither  uttered  a  word.  The  chil- 
dren renewed  their  lamentations,  mingling  the  name  of 
father  with  that  of  mother ;  until  Kathleen,  evidently  im- 
pelled to  a  renewed  eli'ort,  stooped  down  to  fold  her  parent 
in  a  long,  a  fervent  embrace,  and  then  raising  herself,  pro- 
ceeded to  disengage  her  from  the  arms  of  the  children,  to 
whom  she  spoke  in  an  earnest  manner,  but  too  low  to  be 
heard  by  any  others.  Her  words  seemed  to  produce  the 
desired  effect :  for  the  little  ones  checked  their  tears,  and 
in  turn  kissed  their  mother,  each  whispering  some  injunc- 
tion in  her  ear,  while  she  held  them  close,  and  seemed  to 
experience  the  rending  of  a  heart-string  as  each  soft  lip 
was  withdrawn  from  her  face.  They  then  surrounded 
their  sister ;  and  the  girls,  gathering  up  their  garments, 
displayed  the  scars  that  had  marked  their  tender  ancles : 
while  the  boy's  feet,  without  shoes,  shrank  from  the  rough 


DERBY.  209 

stones,  with  which  they  came  in  contact  as  he  moved 
away.  It  was  with  unspeakable  thankfulness  that  the 
weeping  lookers-on  beheld  a  pair  of  shoes  suited  to  his 
eize  flung  from  the  ramparts  just  in  his  path  ;  which  the 
little  fellow  immediately  put  on,  jumping  with  delight  at 
the  valuable  acquisition.  Kathleen  turned  round — she  ap- 
peared doubly  glad  of  the  excuse  so  to  do ;  and  raising 
first  her  arms  and  eyes  to  heaven,  she  fixed  an  intent  gaze 
upon  the  walls  :  she  then  bowed  her  head,  clenched  her 
hands  in  unutterable  agony,  and  with  one  more  hurried 
glance  at  her  dying  mother,  she  buried  herself  and  the 
children  amid  the  departing  crowd. 

All  this  was  clearly  comprehended  by  the  spectators  on 
the  wall  J  and  deep  indeed  was  the  sympathy  excited  for 
the  father,  who  beheld  his  lovely  and  delicate  children 
thus  driven  from  beneath  his  eye,  to  seek  a  home,  where 
no  protection,  beyond  that  of  the  bare  paternal  roof, 
awaited  them  ;  while  the  partner  of  bis  sorrow  lay  expir- 
ing, nor  dared  by  one  glance  of  recognition  to  hazard  the 
discovery  of  his  having  been  admitted  into  the  garrison. 
He  stood,  his  elbows  resting  on  the  outer  wall,  and  his  face 
entirely  concealed  upon  his  hands.  There  was  no  out- 
ward sign  of  what  was  raging  within,  save  the  short  and 
violent  gasping  of  his  breath  ;  nor  did  those  who  imme- 
diately surrounded  him  venture  to  break  the  silence,  which 
spoke  more  than  audible  complaints  could  have  expressed. 
Bryan  had  beheld  the  whole  scene  with  feelings  unusually 
excited ;  for,  as  the  venerable  forms  of  Basil  and  Shane 
had  receded  from  his  view,  until  they  became  lost  in  the 
promiscuous  company  around  them,  every  wound  recently 
inflicted  on  his  affectionate  heart,  bled  anew  under  the 
sense  of  irreparable  loss,  rendering  him  more  keenl}'  alive 
to  the  suflferings  of  others.  Besides,  the  objects  most  dear 
to  him,  his  mother,  Letitia,  Ellen,  were  committed  to  a 
peaceflil  grave,  over  which  it  was  his  privilege  daily  to 


2 10  DERRY, 

watch  ;  and  their  spirits,  he  knew,  were  yet  more  safely 
housed  in  the  mansions  of  the  blessed,  under  the  guardian 
hand  of  Him  who  had  lovtd  them,  and  who  gave  himself 
for  tliem  :  whereas  this  agonized  husband  and  father  was 
left  to  the  most  dreadful  surmises,  as  to  what  of  mortal  suf- 
fering might  yet  await  those  in  whom  his  own  lite  seemed 
to  be  wrapped  up.  "And  I  know  not,"  thought  Bryan, 
"  whether  he  be  a  partaker  in  that  precious  faith  which 
seems  to  support  the  suul  of  his  expiring  wife."  With 
such  thoughts  in  his  mind,  he  gradually  approached  the 
stranger  ;  and  having  rested  for  a  while  on  the  wall  beside 
him,  adilressed  him  in  a  voice  of  respectful  commiseration. 
"  You  are  not  alone  in  your  suH'erings :  alas,  that  the 
only  consolation  which  we  can  offer  should  be  a  fellow- 
ship in  wretchedness !" 

The  stranger  shook  his  head  in  token  of  bitter  assent, 
but  neither  spoke,  nor  looked  up. 

Encouraged  by  this  slight  proof  of  attention  to  his  words, 
Bryan  proceeded  :  "  1  know  that  he  whose  power  to  save 
is  as  infmite  as  the  compassion  which  calls  that  power  into 
action,  is  likewise  touched  with  a  feeling  of  all  our  infirmi- 
ties— has  in  all  points  bet-n  tempted  like  as  we  are" — 

"Yet  without  sin,"  interrupted  the  other:  and  then  rai*- 
ing  his  tearful  eyes  to  heaven,  he  ejaculated,  "  Oh,  merci- 
ful High  Priest !  subdue  these  sinful  repinings,  and  teach 
my  soul  to  say,  '  It  is  the  Lord  !'  " 

There  was  a  simple,  a  sublime  fervor  in  the  tone  of 
this  short  appeal,  that  bespoke  the  agony  of  spirit  under 
which  the  sufferer  struggled  for  resignation :  it  carried  re- 
proach to  many  a  heart  which  had  failed  under  similar 
trial  to  seek  to  the  same  source  for  comfort  and  submis- 
sion. To  Bryan  the  words  were  fraught  with  solid  satis- 
faction ;  and  confirmed  him  in  a  purpose  already  formed  in 
his  benevolent  mind.  Pressing  still  nearer  to  the  object 
of  his  compassion,  he  continued,  in  a  low  voice,  the  ex- 


DERRY.  211 

presslon  of  his  Christian  sympathy  ;  then  said,  "  There  is 
evident  danger  in  your  remaining  to  occupy  a  station  from 
which  it  is  yet  hardly  possible  to  urge  your  removal. 
Whenever  your  feelings  will  permit  you  to  relinquish  for 
a  short  space  this  post  of  melancholy  watching,  leave  it  to 
me — I  will  not  neglect  for  a  moment  the  sacred  charge — 
and  give  my  aged  grandmother  the  support  of  your  arm 
to  her  bereaved  home,  where  your  presence  will  fill  one 
of  its  many  vacancies  with  a  fellow  sufferer,  partaking  alike 
in  our  abounding  affliction,  and  in  the  consolation  that, 
through  divine  grace,  sometimes  much  more  abounds." 

The  stranger  turned  upon  him  his  heavy  and  swollen 
eyes,  with  an  expression  of  deep  thankfulness,  replying, 
"  It  is  a  brotherly  offer ;  and  with  a  brother's  frankness  I 
will  accept  it." 

"  Where  have  you  been,  Magrath  1"  asked  Bryan,  as  his 
faithful  follower  mounted  the  wall  near  him. 

"  I  have  been  putting  my  hand  to  the  work  yonder, 
your  honor,"  he  replied,  pointing  to  the  place  where  the 
gallows  had  stood,  which,  with  scrupulous  adherence  to 
the  letter  and  spirit  of  their  declaration,  the  Derry  men 
had  taken  down  as  soon  as  the  crowd  moved  off  from  be- 
low. 

"  And  did  your  governor  really  purpose  to  execute  those 
miserable  captives  1"  asked  the  stranger,  whose  name  was 
Morrison. 

"Every  neck  of  them,  Sir,  we  would  have  stretched," 
answered  Magrath,  sternly,  "and  themselves  never  denied 
the  justice  of  it."' 

"  That  acknowledgment  was  what  saved  them,"  added 
Bryan  ;  "  together  with  the  evident  fact,  that  the  savage 
foreigners  cared  not  how  much  of  native  blood  might  flow, 
but  would  rather  rejoice  in  proportion  to  the  horrors  per- 
petrated under  their  iniquitous  domination." 

"  They  are  encouraged  by  the  priests,"  said  Morrison. 


212  DERRY. 

"  Look  yonder  !"  exclaimud  Magrath,  unconscious  of  the 
agonizing  interest  that  the  scene  to  which  hi'  pointed  must 
excite  in  the  breast  of  his  hearer. 

A  Frrnch  oflicer,  who  appeared  to  have  received  some 
order  to  investigate  the  condition  of  those  who  remained 
below  the  walls,  had  approached  the  place  where  ■Morri- 
son's wife  lay,  seemingly  in  a  quiet  sleep.  Attended  by 
three  or  four  soldiers,  he  reached  the  spot,  and  rudely 
pushing  with  his  foot  the  helpless  creature  bclorc  him,  he 
demanded  in  broken  English  why  shr  illd  not  fjjlow  tha 
rest  of  the  rabble  on  their  march. 

She  raised  her  hollow  eyes,  and  arfieuhiti-d  some  words 
too  faintly  to  be  understood.  The  I'Vi.-nchman,  with  his 
sheathed  sword,  was  about  to  thrust  the  pillow  of  ragged 
clothes  from  beneath  her  head,  at  the  same  lime  ordering 
her  to  rise,  while  Morrison  grasping  the  top  of  the  wall, 
seemed  in  act  to  throw  himself  over,  as  the  nearest  way  to 
succor  her,  when  an  Irish  sergeant  approaching,  in  a  tone 
of  suppressed  rage,  exclaimed,  "  Let  the  woman  ilie  in 
peace." 

The  officer  commanded  him  to  retire,  but  he  stood  his 
ground,  seemingly  prepared  to  resist,  in  deed  as  well  as  by 
words,  the  wanton  barbarity  of  his  companions,  towards 
one  so  evidently  sufTt-ring  the  pangs  of  dissolution  ;  while 
the  soldiers,  pressin^^  nearer,  seemed  anxious  for  some  com- 
mand to  remove  him  by  force. 

This  was  presently  given ;  and  at  the  same  moment  the 
sergeant,  placing  himself  astride  over  the  narrow  couch, 
drew  his  hanger  ;  but  several  of  his  countrymen  running 
up,  among  whom  was  an  officer,  the  Frenchman  moved 
back,  calling  on  his  men  to  disarm  the  mutineer,  and  con- 
duct him  to  the  fort. 

"  What's  this,  Connellan  V  asked  the  Irish  officer,  "  how 
came  you  to  mutiny,  sirl" 

"  Is  it  mutiny  to  defend  a  dying  countrywoman  from 


DERRY.  213 

those  who  thirst  for  Irish  blood  1"  said  the  sergeant,  in  hi» 
native  tongue. 

"Is  she  dying'?" 

The  Frenchman  asserted  that  she  was  as  well  able  to 
walk  o3'  as  the  rest  of  the  party  ;  but  that  she  preferred  ly- 
ing there,  in  the  hope  of  being  taken  into  the  town. 

"  No  fear  of  that,"  answered  the  other.  "  The  starving 
rascals  know  better  than  to  let  more  hungry  mouths  into 
their  den  ;  besides,"  he  added,  stooping  to  look  at  her  pal- 
lid face,  "she  is  really  at  the  point  of  death." 

The  Frenchman  made  no  reply  to  this,  but  in  a  more 
violent  lone  repeated  the  order  to  seize  Connellan  for  mu- 
tiny. 

"I've  committed  no  mutiny,  and  I'll  not  be  disarmed 
by  you,"  said  the  sergeant,  darting  a  look  of  defiance  at 
all  the  foreign  soldiers. 

"  You're  right,  my  lad,"  exclaimed  the  officer,  "  and 
General  Hamilton  will  say  the  same." 

The  Frenchman  vehemently  protested  that  all  the  rules 
of  military  service  were  on  his  side  ;  that  for  a  non-com- 
missioned officer  to  draw  his  sword  upon  a  superior,  wa& 
death  before  any  court-martial. 

"  Never  mind, '  replied  the  other,  with  provoking  cool- 
ness. "  We're  not  particular  here,  you  know.  Monsieur 
de  Rosen  has  dispensed  with  all  the  troublesome  laws  at 
honor,  good  faith,  and  humanity  ;  and  we  need  not  stick  at 
a  trifle  in  the  articles  of  war." 

The  Frenchman  peremptorily  ordered  his  men  to  ad- 
vance upon  Connellan ;  the  others  as  promptly  joined  in 
defending  him.  A  desperate  scuffle  took  place,  pistols 
were  discharged,  while  Magrath  and  others  shouted  from 
the  walls  their  loud  encouragement  to  the  Irish  party.  It 
was  a  short  interval  of  unspeakable  horror  to  the  husband, 
who  beheld  this  sanguinary  struggle  around  and  over  the 
death-bed  of  his  beloved  partner  j  and  scarcely  could 
19 


214  DEBtlY. 

Bryan  withhold  liim  from  leapin^down  to  certain  destruc- 
tion. But  the  fray  was  ended,  the  Frenchruen  retreated, 
U'aving  one  of  their  number  hheding  on  the  ground  ;  and 
as  the  combatants  separated,  the  Irish  otficer  gently  raised 
the  lifeless olijt'ct  of tli.^ir corvipassion,  sayin?,  "She's  gone, 
indeed  :  a  l)ullet  has  passed  through  her  brain." 

The  fact  was  evident ;  and  ]\Iorrison,  bowing  his  head 
upon  the  wall,  exclaimed,  in  a  smothered  tone,  "  Kven 
so ;  and  there  is  mercy  in  it.  Lord,  tejich  my  soul  to  prai»« 
thee?" 


CHAPTER  XIII 


When  the  little  household  of  M'Alister  assembled  at 
their  evening  duty,  Morrison  formed  the  principal  object 
of  interest,  and  their  united  prayers  arose  for  the  safe 
guidance  of  his  distant  children,  concerning  whom  many 
questions  were  asked  ;  less  from  curiosity  than  to  indulge 
the  fatherly  feelings  of  their  guest.  He  represented  Kath- 
leen as  endued  with  wisdom  and  disci*etion  far  beyond  her 
years  ;  well  armed  in  the  gospel  panoply,  either  to  do  or 
to  suiior  in  that  glorious  cause,  for  which  he  professed  his 
readiness  to  see  even  his  children  oflered  up  as  victims 
on  the  altar  of  their  faith,  rather  than  he  or  they  should 
compromise  it. 

"I  begin,"  said  Ross,  "  to  understand  something  of  this 
high  and  holy  principle,  the  fruits  of  which  1  have,  with 
admiring  wonder,  continually  seen  displayed  beneath  this 
roof,  without  being  able  to  comprehend  the  root  that  pro- 
duced them.  My  head,  I  think,  gets  clearer  ;  but  the 
heart,  alas !  errs  more  widely  every  day." 

"  Say  rather,"  replied  the  Lady  of  M'Alister,  "  that 
grace  is  given  more  clearly  to  discern  its  errors.  The  ad- 
mission of  light,  my  dear  young  friend,  makes  manifest 
many  displeasing  objects  that  were  not  before  seen  ;  but  it 
neither  adds  to  their  number,  nor  increases  their  actual  de- 
formity." 


216  PFllRY. 

"  I've  born  thinking  on  that  myBelf,"  said  Magrath, 
"  when  reading  to  the  prisoners  to-day." 

"  Then  you  found  time  even  to-day,  my  good  iVUow  V 
«aid  Bryan. 

"  Sure,  Sir,  and  I  couhhi't  do  less.  The  poor  souls  ex- 
pected every  one  to  be  hanged,  though  we  told  them  it 
was  onlv  the  ollicersthat  we  meant  to  execute  ;  and  when 
the  p<>oj)le  marched  away,  and  the  gallows  was  taken  down, 
it  was  myself  that  couldn't  but  go  and  n-ad  llx-m  a  psalm 
out  of  Mr.  Basil's  beautiful  book." 

"  And  this  was  what  detained  you  so  long  !"  asked 
Ross. 

"  No,  sir  ;  I  had  other  work  in  hand  afterwards  ;  but  I 
didn't  like  to  mention  it  till  prayers  were  done  :" — Then 
turning  to  Mr.  Morrison,  with  the  hesitation  of  real  feel- 
ing, he  inquired  whether  the  name  of  Connf  llan  had 
not  reached  his  ears  in  the  morning ;  to  which  the  other, 
with  a  heavy  sigh,  answered,  that  it  had  j  under  circum- 
stances never  to  be  forgotten. 

"  Well,  Sir,  that  Connellan  is  an  old  comrade  of  mine  ; 
and  a  lad  who  wont  be  nice  about  his  religion  when  his 
Irish  blood  is  up  against  the  French.  I  took  advantage  of 
this  after  you  left  the  wall,  and  " — he  hesitated  again,  and 
then,  in  a  more  hurried  manner  added,  "  There  are  gravea 
of  my  digging  in  the  church-yard,  that  cover  some  who 
were  the  sunshine  to  our  eyes.  I've  dug  another  beside 
them,  and  at  midnight  we'll  receive  the  body  of  her  who 
is  gone  to  their  blessed  home,  Connellan  will  bring  it  to 
the  gate,  and  I've  the  Governor's  leave.  I  know  'tis  a 
comfort,"  he  added,  turning  away  to  hide  the  starting 
tears,  "  for  havn't  I  found  it  so  myself!" 

While  jNIorrison,  overcome  by  this  unexpected  mercy, 
vainly  strove  to  express  his  gratitude,  Ross  exclaimed, 
"Magrath,  I  verily  think  you  were  sent  here  to  be  a  per- 
petual reproach  to  my  shameful  prejudices  against  the  na- 
tive race." 


DERRY.  217 

"  You've  no  prejudice  now,  Mr.  Ross,  avourncen,"  an- 
swered Magrath,  with  an  affectionate  smile ;  "  but  when 
they  who  should  sow  good  seed  plant  nothing  but  thistles, 
what  crop  can  you  expect  I  Only  lay  the  blame  on  the 
right  shoulders." 

"  He  speaks  most  justly,"  observed  Morrison  ;  "  and  the 
generous  deed  that  he  and  Conn  ell  an  have  performed  are 
more  characteristic  of  our  countrymen's  natural  feeling 
than  are  the  sanguinary  acts  which  have  made  their  name 
a  terror,  and  our  beautiful  island  a  reproach  among  the 
nations.  My  own  life  has  been  an  active  one,  bringing  me 
very  frequently  into  contact  with  the  most  untamed  among 
my  countrymen,  in  their  mountain  fastnesses  and  secluded 
vallies.  !  have  been  so  situated  in  those  remote  districts, 
that  my  personal  safety  depended,  so  far  as  man  was  con- 
cerned, on  an  unhesitating  appeal  to  the  nobler  feelings  of 
their  nature :  and  when  uninfluenced  by  the  present  insti- 
gation of  their  priests,  I  have  found  their  enmity  melt 
away  before  the  appearance,  or  let  me  rather  say  the  reali- 
ty, of  affectionate  confidence  on  the  part  of  one  who 
threw  himself  on  their  hospitable  faith." 

"Tis  the  way  of  them  when  left  to  themselves,"  said 
Magrath,  thoughtfully  ;  "  but  your  honor  was  right  in 
barring  the  priest's  blarney." 

"  I  have  good  reason  to  do  so,  my  dear  brother,"  re- 
joined Morrison,  whose  every  look  beamed  with  grateful 
cordiality  towards  Magrath;  ''and  one  among  several 
instances  I  will  name.  Some  years  sinc*^  I  was  traveling 
through  a  mountainous  and  unfrequented  district  in  the 
wildest  part  of  Galway,  where  scarcely  a  trace  of  civiliza- 
tion could  be  discovered,  and  where  my  ignorance  of  the 
native  language,  left  me  in  the  state  of  a  man  cast  ashore 
on  some  foreign  strand.  In  fact,  I  had  acted  very  incau- 
tiously, in  neglecting  to  provide  myself  with  an  interpret- 
ing guide  J  but  I  could  not  believe  that  the  English  tongue 
19* 


218  DKURT. 

would  be  so  univprsally  unintclligiblo  within  hnlf  a  day's 
journey  of  places  whore  it  was  generally  understood,  and 
used.  However,  I  found  my  «'rror  too  late  to  profit  by 
the  discovery  ;  ami  cominitlin;^  myself  to  the  Lord,  1  wi-nt 
on,  accosting  all  whom  I  m^t,  in  the  liope  of  obtaining  an 
answer  from  some  one.  1  was  disappointed  ;  and  to  aggra- 
vate it,  there  generally  appean-d  a  scowl  of  displeasure  ac- 
companying the  ivultered  Celtic,  or  the  sullen  silence  in 
which  my  address  was  received." 

"I'll  engage  for  'em,"  said  Magrath,  smiling ;  "it  isn't 
the  English  sound  will  make  a  man  welcome  in  Cun- 
namara. ' 

"  I  went  on,"  continued  .Morrison,  "  until  the  closing 
evening,  and  my  own  fatigue,  together  with  the  jaded 
pace  of  my  horse,  compelled  me  to  make  an  attack  on  the 
hospitality  of  the  next  cabin  that  olFered  any  appearance 
of  comfort.  I  reached  one,  situated  in  the  micht  of  what 
seemed  a  respectable  little  property,  well  farmed  ;  but  the 
house,  though  large,  was  as  rudely  built,  an<l  of  as  rugged 
an  aspect,  as  any  cabin  in  the  bogs.  Here  1  reined  in  my 
horse,  and  fastening  him  to  a  tree,  walked  into  the 
kitchen." 

"  And  parlor,  and  bedroom,"  iiili  rrupted  Magrath,  who 
seemed  to  enjoy  the  recital  greatly. 

"Yes  ;  I  believe  it  would  be  diliicult  to  name  any  use 
to  which  it  was  not  applied.  .AIv  entrance  was  hailed 
with  respectful  courtesy,  but  when  I  spoke  in  English,  the 
party  looked  one  upon  another,  with  countenances  that 
promised  me  little  encouragement.  Affecting  not  to  per- 
ceive this,  I  advanced  towards  the  table,  on  whicli  smoked 
a  plentiful  load  of  hot  potatoes;  and,  smiling  with  the  air 
of  a  man  who  knows  that  he  is  welcome,  I  drew  a  stool 
nearer  to  the  board,  and  seated  myself;  taking  off  my  hat, 
wiping  my  brow,  and  letting  them  see  that  1  was  pretty 
well  fatigued." 


DERRY.  219 

"  And  how  did  they  look  V  asked  Ross. 

"  Perfectly  well  pleased.  Some  remarks  passed  among 
them  in  a  tone  of  good-humored  raillery  ;  but  the  best  po- 
tatoes were  culled,  and  a  slice  of  bacon  presently  cut,  and 
laid  over  the  clear  turf  embers.  One  of  the  young  men, 
spying  out  my  spurs,  lookt^d  from  the  door-way,  and  went 
out,  returning  soon  after  Avith  my  saddle,  bridle,  and  ve- 
lisse  ;  which  he  put  down,  nodding  his  head,  and  point- 
ing in  a  direction  where  I  had  observed  some  sheds,  to  in- 
timate that  the  horse  was  housed ;  and  taking  out  with 
him  a  bucket,  and  a  measure  for  corn,  he  left  me  well  sat- 
isfied that  my  poor  steed  was  sharing  the  hospitality  of 
which  his  master  heartily  partook." 

Magrath's  countenance  shone  with  satisfaction.  He 
rubbed  his  hands,  and  turned  involuntarily  towards  the 
comer  from  whence  old  Shane's  smile  was  wont  to  re- 
spond to  any  expression  of  national  feeling  on  the  part  of 
his  nephew.  But  that  corner  was  empty,  and  a  shade 
passed  over  the  clear  brow,  not  unmarked  or  unfelt  by 
Bryan  and  the  Lady. 

"I  need  not  describe,"  resumed  Morrison,  "the  kind- 
ness with  which  I  was  treated,  having  once  been  made 
welcome  by  this  Irish  family:  and  on  a  rough  but  com- 
fortable bed  I  slept  that  night,  as  free  from  apprehension 
as  though  my  own  roof  had  been  over  m.e  ;  notwithstand- 
ing the  evident  dissatisfaction  with  which  they  had  mark- 
ed my  rejection  of  the  holy  water,  careful!}'  placed  within 
my  reach.  Next  morning  I  found  that  my  horse,  whose 
limping  motion  I  had  attributed  to  flitigue,  had  been  injur- 
ed by  some  sharp  gravel  getting  into  an  old  sore  in  one  of 
his  ancles,  and  really  needed  the  rest  which  his  good-na- 
tured attendant,  by  signs,  requested  me  to  afford  him  ;  and 
while  I  considered  the  matter,  a  younger  lad,  whom  I  had 
missed  from  the  breakfast  tDble,  appeared,  leading  a  pretty 
little  maiden  by  the  hand  ;  who  with  a  low  curtesy,  and 


£20  DERRT. 

blushing,  informed  me  that  she  was  come  to  give  us  Ihe 
help  so  much  needed,  being  able  to  s])eak  both  the  lan- 
guage of  my  hosts  and  my  own.  With  her  assistance,  the 
invitation  was  pressed  more  eloquently,  and  the  case  of 
my  poor  horse  feelingly  described  ;  so  tiiat  I  consented  to 
be  their  guest  for  a  day  or  two  longer." 

"  And  did  it  last,  the  hospitality  of  them,  Sir  ?"  asked 
Magrath  anxiously. 

"  It  did,  for  three  days  ;  and  we  really  had  become 
such  friends,  that  I  could  not,  without  pain,  think  of  part- 
ing from  them.  On  that  day,  however,  being  with  Judyj 
my  little  interpreter,  at  some  distance  from  the  house,  and 
reading  to  her  from  the  bible,  some  of  those  precious 
truths  which,  by  her  means,  I  had  also  conveyed  to  the 
family  party,  wc  heard  on  a  sudden  a  very  loud  voice,  evi- 
dently in  great  anger,  expostulating  in  Irish,  while  the 
crack  of  a  stout  whip  seemed  to  give  empliasis  to  the  ex- 
hortation." 

"  Long  life  to  the  whipcord  !"  said  Magrath,  with  one 
of  his  inimitable  grimaces:  "'tis  the  best  argument  his 
riverence  has  to  the  fore." 

"My  poor  little  companion,"  continued  Morrison^ 
*'  turned  so  pale,  and  trembled  so  violently,  that  I  easily 
guessed  what  formidable  personage  was  at  hand.  The 
voices  approached  nearer,  and  Judy,  suddenly  seizing  me 
by  the  arm,  compelled  me  to  crouch  with  her  beneath  the 
shelter  of  a  clamp  of  turf,  which  effectually  concealed  us  5 
while  the  priest  slowly  walked  his  horse,  vociferating  at 
the  farmer  and  his  eldest  son,  who  silentl}"^  accompanied 
his  progress,  until,  just  over  against  our  hiding  place,  the 
young  man  spoke  in  a  tone  of  respectful  but  earnest  re- 
monstrance. 

"  On  this  the  priest  pulled  up  his  hor^e  ;  and  prefacing 
his  speech  with  a  crack  that  made  poor  Judy  start  terri. 
bly,  he  commenced  a  long  and  indignant  reply,  to  which 


derry.  221 

my  companion  eagerly  listened.  Her  countenance  bore 
testimony  to  its  purport ;  for  she  first  let  go  my  arm, 
which  she  had  been  holding  fast,  and  then,  by  degrees, 
edged  away  from  me,  casting  every  now  and  then  such  a 
glance  of  fear  and  perplexity  at  my  face,  as  it  really  pain- 
ed me  to  witness.  At  length  the  parties  proceeded  on 
their  way  ;  and  we  left  our  retreat.  I  had  remarked  that 
Judy  seemed  quite  ignorant  on  the  subject  of  her  own  re- 
ligion, and  unconscious  that  any  difference  existed  between 
others  on  matters  of  faith.  She  was  also  artless,  grateful, 
and  affectionate  in  an  uncommon  degree  ;  and  as  I  easily 
surmised  the  cause  of  her  sudden  estrangement,  I  had  little 
difficulty  in  counteracting  the  effect  of  the  priest's  dis- 
course on  her  mind,  so  lar  as  to  regain  much  of  her  inno- 
cent good-will.  I  depended  on  the  Lord's  mercy  to  make 
her  instrumental  in  preserving  me  from  any  snare  that 
might  be  laid. 

"  Towards  evening,  Judy  sought  me  out :  and  in  a 
trembling  voice,  told  me  to  go  away  from  that  place  as 
fast  as  I  could.  '  Why,  my  child  1  Do  you  think  that  I 
will  hurt  you,  or  any  one  V  She  replied,  that  it  was  not 
me  that  would  hurt  them  ;  and  spoke  it  with  an  emphasis 
that  shewed  she  wished  me  to  understand  the  reverse  to  be 
the  cause  of  her  fear.  I  pondered  upon  the  case,  not  a 
little  at  a  loss,  and  still  unwilling  to  believe  that  any  harm 
would  reach  me  in  the  bosom  of  that  hospitable  and  frank- 
hearted  family.*' 

Magrath  shook  his  head,  with  a  bitter  smile. 

Mr.  Morrison  proceeded.  "At  the  evening  meal  1 
watched  the  looks  of  the  assembled  part}^,  but  could  detect 
no  change.  Indeed,  if  any  thing,  the  farmer  and  his  son 
were  more  officiously  cordial  than  before  ;  and  this  cer- 
tainly perplexed  me,  seeing  the  effect  produced  on  Judy 
by  the  priest's  harangue.  The  little  girl  was  evidently 
watching  also  j  and  at  one  time,  when  the  men  were  talk- 


222  lEBRY. 

ing  ill  a  loud,  chc«'rful  tone,  calculated  to  dispr-l  all  susp»» 
cion  from  th<'  mind  of  one  who  could  not  understand  their 
language,  1  saw  h':'r  so  much  terrified,  that  combining  it 
with  some  side  looks  cautiously  darted  at  me  by  the 
■peakers,  I  f.-lt  convinced  there  was  no  timt*  to  lose.  ' 
took  advantage  of  a  half  hour,  when  1  knew  that  the  men 
would  be  absent  in  a  distant  field  ;  and  saddling  my  horse* 
with  a  heavy  heart,  I  rode  hastily  away. ' 

"  But  yuu  had  no  projf  of  ill  intentions  b'iniz  •  iiti  rfain- 
ed,"  observed  Bryan. 

"Not  at  that  time;  but  I  altt-rwariis  mrt  wnii  cin-- oi  the 
farmer's  sons,  under  circumstances  where  I  was  enabled  to 
render  him  such  an  important  service,  that  in  the  over- 
flowings of  his  gratitude,  he  confessed  how  near  I  had  been 
to  losing  my  life.  The  priest,  he  said,  had  threatened  to 
denounce  them  all  for  harboring  a  heretic  so  long ;  and  to 
BUch  a  pitch  were  the  national  and  superstitious  feelings  of 
the  elder  son  excited  by  his  inflammatory  language,  that 
he  had  n'solved  to  do  me  some  mortal  injury,  in  revenge 
for  the  wrongs  of  his  country  and  his  religi^jn,  as  he  said.'' 

"  I  don't  doubt  it,"  observed  Magrath  ;  "  but  unless  the 
others  had  joined  him,  he  would  hardly  havi'  been  able  to 
do  it.  No  thanks  to  the  priest,  that  all  the  party  were  not 
against  you.  If  the  farmer  had  withstood  his  rivcrence, 
and  kept  your  honor  in  his  house,  he'd  have  had  the  parish 
raised  up  against  him,  and  a  long  day  it  would  have  been 
before  he  saw  the  end  of  their  persecution." 

"Pernicious  influence  !"  exclaimed  Bryan. 

"  And  unaccountable,  too ;"  added  Ross,  "  that  it  should 
quell,  at  a  word,  the  strongest  impulses  of  the  national 
character,  the  force  of  habit,  and  all  that  appears  most 
stubbornly  rooted  in  man." 

"  That  mystery  of  iniquity,"  remarked  the  Lady  of 
M'Alister,  "  will  be  a  mystery  always  ;  yet  we  may  in 
some  wise  account  for  the  despotic  power  so  banefully 


DERRY.  223 

exercised  over  the  consciences,  the  souls,  and  the  actions 
of  our  fellow  men.  They  are  taught  from  earliest  child- 
hood, that  to  the  priests  of  Rome  are  committed  the  desli- 
nif 3  of  their  followers  ;  that  he  who  ministers  at  the  altar, 
and  presides  over  the  confessional,  possesses  unquestioned 
authority  fo  admit  ck"  to  exclnde  ;  to  throw  wide  the  door 
of  lieavon,  or  to  fence  it  with  impassable  barriers  againsj 
the  individual  who  kneels  at  his  (eat.  What  marvel  that, 
ruling  as  a  demi-god,  assuming  to  wit-Id  at  will  the  thunders 
of  Him  who  governs  earth  and  heaven,  his  sway  should  be 
unlimit(Hl,  and  his  dominion  perfect  1" 

"  kStill, '  said  Ross,  "  I  am  astonished  that  religion  should 
so  powerfully  and  extensively  influence  the  members  of 
the  popish  communion,  when  among  the  followers  of  a 
purer  faith  we  see  it  generally  occup3'ing  a  ver}'  small 
share  of  their  attention.  Supposing  that  a  protestant  could 
believe  his  minister  pqually  potent,  in  spiritual  matters,  as 
the  papist  holds  his  priest  to  be,  I  doubt  whether  the  for- 
mer, I  mean  the  great  bulk  of  professing  protestants,  would 
show  sufiicient  concern  for  things  not  of  this  world,  to 
yield  such  blind  obedience  to  the  dicta  of  his  guide." 

"  It  is  true,"  replied  the  Lady  ;  "and  it  affords  a  lament- 
able proof  how  much  wiser  in  their  generation  are  the  vo- 
taries of  delusion  than  the  children  of  light.  But  mark  the 
origin  of  what  you  have  alluded  to :  the  priest  of  Rome 
knov/s  that  it  is  essential  to  the  existence  of  his  power  to 
bring  up  every  child  in  habits  of  religious  observance. 
He  must  be  kept  mindful  of  his  soul's  concerns,  because 
on  that  depends  the  value  of  all  priestly  services :  and  to 
accomplish  this,  the  father  of  lies  has  framed  for  him  a  re- 
ligion in  no'  wise  opposed  to  the  natural  bent  of  corrupt 
minds  ;  a  religion  consisting  of  bodily  exercises,  and  will- 
worship,  fitted  to  nourish  and  to  gratify  his  carnal  pride ; 
a  religion  perfectly  compatible  with  the  dominant  preva- 
lence of  all  sin  and  uncleanness  ;  which  does  indeed  point 


224  DERRY. 

out  and  stigmatize  those  things  as  displeasing  to  God,  and 
dangerous  to  the  soul  of  man,  but  which  at  the  same  time 
profiers  to  the  ofl'ender  connivance — impunity  in  transgres- 
sion— at  tiic  price  of  perfect  submission  to  the  church. 
The  wealthy  must  purchase  \\ith  tlieir  riches  the  privi- 
lege of  sinning  ;  the  poor  must  render  such  service  as  they 
can,  by  holding  themselves  in  perpetual  readiness  to  exe- 
cute every  mandate  of  their  crafty  guides.  And  all  this 
is  comparatively  easy  to  the  natural  man,  to  whom  any 
sound  is  more  welcome  than  that  which  calls  on  him  to 
repent  and  be  converted — to  believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  that  he  may  be  saved — which  assures  him  that,  in 
order  to  enter  heaven,  he  must  become  a  new  creature, 
denying  ungodliness  and  worldly  lusts,  and  glorifying  God 
in  that  body,  and  in  that  spirit,  which  are  his  alone." 

Magralh  listened  attentively  to  this  remark  ;  and  when 
the  Lady  concluded,  he  said,  "  It's  all  true,  for  your  Lady- 
ship, and  there's  yet  another  thing  that  you  haven't  no- 
ticed. The  poor  people,  indeed,  are  careful  for  their 
souls,  as  well  they  may  be,  seeing  how  little  comfort  they 
have  to  their  bodies,  let  alone  looking  forward  to  the  fire 
of  purgatory :  but  you'll  please  to  remember,  that  the 
priest  has  power  to  harm  them,  in  life,  limb,  and  substance. 
Many's  the  one  upon  whom  he  has  put  his  curse;  and  my- 
self has  seen  it — bad  luck  was  all  that  came  to  the  sorrow- 
ful creature  from  that  day  forward.  I've  seen  how  the 
praties  would  tail,  the  cow  would  be  dry,  the  turf  was 
rotted  in  the  clamp,  and  the  man  would  sicken,  and  pine, 
and  melt  away,  till  only  the  bare  bones  remained,  and  into 
the  grave  he  sank,  withered  by  the  curse  of  the  altar." 

"Indeed,  Magrath!"  said  Bryan,  "  I  did  not  suppose 
that  you  still  believed  these  lying  wonders." 

"  I've  seen  it.  Sir,"  answered  Magrath  in  a  firm  tone, 
that  seemed  to  set  farther  question  at  defiance. 

"  You  may  have  seen  all  these  things,  indeed,  and  I  do 


DERRY.  225 

iiot  doubt  your  word  ;  but  they  were  not  the  effects  of  the 
priest's  curse." 

"  Then  why  did  they  follow  it,  Sir  1" 

"  The  failure  of  a  crop,  of  a  cow,  or  a^  claflnp  of  tun^' 
would  have  occurred,  and  passed  unmarked,  only  that,  the 
curse  being  borne  in  mind-  by  the  superstitious  people, 
every  untoward  event  was  traced  back  to  its  operation. 
Did  no  other  like  misfortunes  happen  where  the  priest  had 
given  his  blessing,  Magrath  1" 

"I  don't  say  but  they  might,  Mr.  Bryan:  but  then  for 
the  pining  away,  and  melting  of  the  person,  just  as  the 
priest  said,  wasn't  that  his  doing  1" 

"  Most  probably  it  was,"  replied  the  Lady  of  M'Alister  ; 
"  but  not  by  any  power  of  his  own.  The  poor  victim 
who  has  fallen  under  a  ban,  which  he  vainly  considers  of 
such  potency  as  to  affect  his  life,  becomes  a  prey  to  de- 
spair. The  persecution  to  which  he  is  subjected  destroys 
every  comfort  of  his  existence,  or  dreadfully  embitters  it : 
and,  looking  on  himself  as  doomed  to  destruction,  he  pines 
awa}',  under  the  dread  of  what  he  has  no  hope  of  averting. 
Trust  me,  j\Iagrath,  should  any  power  which  he  could  be- 
lieve to  be  more  effectual  than  that  of  his  priest,  visibly  in- 
terpose on  his  behalf,  to  reverse  the  unholy  charm,  he 
would  quickly  cast  off  his  fear,  the  danger  would  vanish 
from  before  him,  hope  Avould  revive  his  fainting  heart ;  and 
if  the  malady  of  grief  had  not  already  eaten  so  deeply  as 
to  injure  the  springs  of  life,  he  would  quickly  walk  abroad 
among  his  fellows,  as  alert  as  ever,  and  as  far  removed 
from  that  grave  to  which  his  own  despondency  was  rapidly 
consigning  him." 

Magrath  looked  very  thoughtful ;  and  Bryan  added, 
"  Remember,  you  told  me  yourself  that  the  hoisting  of  the 
gallows,  and  the  prospect  of  a  sudden,  shameful  death,  had 
left  the  prisoners  but  little  life  for  our  justice  to  deprive 
them  of.' 

20 


226  DERBY. 

'^  Vm  glad,"  said  Magrath,  ''  to  have  heard  all  thi»  j  for,. 
troth,  Mr.  Bryan,  I've  been  more  bothered  by  the  same 
than  you  would  suppose.  I  couldn't  deny  that  my  own 
eyes  had  seen  the  curse  prosper  ;  and  understand  it  1  didn't : 
but  it's  reasonable  to  be  as  you  say,  and  it's  sheer  roguery 
among  the  priests  to  frighten  men  out  of  their  natural 
lives." 

During  the  latter  part  of  this  dificourse,  Morrison  had 
remained  painfully  abstracted  from  all  that  passed ;  ab- 
sorbed in  the  musings  of  a  mind  most  cruelly  bereaved, 
and  following,  in  anxious  thought,  the  pJth  of  his  help- 
less children.  He  was  roused  by  the  energetic  tone  of 
Bryan,  who,  rising  from  his  seat,  exclaimed,  "  Against  thia 
system  of  Satanic  delusion, — against  this  merciless  traffic 
in  the  souls  of  men, — against  this  moral  blight  and  spirit- 
ual pestilence,  which  desolates  out  country,  w'e  have 
manned  our  solitary  fortress ;  and  we  will  hold  it,  by 
God's  help,  while  one  stone  remains  upon  another. 
Though  loes  press  us  from  without,  though  famine  pinches 
us  within,  though  death  stalks  along  our  streets,  and  grave 
after  grave  yawns  to  receive  the  desire  of  our  eyes ; — 
though  sorrow  and  suffering  eat  away  our  strength  ;  and 
hope,  perpetually  deferred,  sickens  the  hearts  that  it  ceases 
not  to  mock  —yet,  yet  we  are  unshaken  :  our  cause  is  that 
of  immutable  truth,  and  an  immutable  God  will  give  us 
the  victory  still.     No  surrender  !" 

"  No  surrender  !"  was  repeated  by  every  individual 
around  him,  while  their  sunken  cheeks  kindled  into  a  flush 
of  sacred  exultation  :  for  even  Ross  now  felt  within  him 
the  actings  of  that  principle  which  he  had  truly  charac- 
terized as  high  and  holy,  and  to  him  for  a  long  time  in- 
comprehensible. .;,  In  Magrath  it  had  taken  deep  root  j 
like  a  plant  which  at  first  vegetates  but  slow  ly  to  the  sight, 
its  vigorous  fibres  were  fixing  a  firm  and  lasting  hold  in 
the  prepared  soil  of  his  heart.      Under  ordinary  circum- 


©ERRY.  227 

stances,  it  is  probable  he  would  havf  maintained  a  more 
protracted  contest  in  defence  of  those  delusions  on  which, 
"but  a  few  months  before,  his  hope  had  been  exclusively 
built  ;  but  the  besieged  fortress  of  Derry  was  no  common 
school,  nor  the  very  court  and  presence-chamber  of  death 
a  scene  wherein  to  trifle  with  the  things  of  eternity.  Te 
this  may  be  added  the  rare  advantage  of  seeing  his  in- 
structors called  upon  daily  to  exemplify  their  teachings, 
by  doing  and  euffering  in  the  cause  of  tnith,  what  the 
stoutest  heart  might  quail  to  encounter  ;  and  in  their  un- 
shaken constancy^  their  unrepining  endurance,  their  free- 
dom from  all  rancorous  or  vindictive  feeling  towards  the 
wretched  agents  of  persecution,  he  read  a  lesson  the  most 
touching,  the  most  convincing  to  an  observant  mind.  Thus, 
by  external  helps  that  infinite  wisdom  devised,  was  that 
secret  work  accelerated,  without  which  all  outward  means 
had  surely  failed  ;  Magrath  grew  in  grace  and  in  know- 
ledge ;  the  light  that  had  so  recently  dawned  upon  his 
soul  lightening  more  and  more  into  perfect  day. 

Bryan's  apostrophe  had  not  been  uttered  without  an  es- 
pecial view  to  the  trial  which  awaited  the  stranger  then 
under  his  roof.  Midnight  drew  on,  and  the  nourishment 
that  would  have  recruited  his  exhausted  frame,  the  cordial 
by  which  a  temporary  animation  might  have  cheered  his 
drooping  spirit,  that  impoverished  household  could  not 
bestow.  Themselves  pining  with  unsatisfied  hunger,  so 
long  that  its  cravings  had  become,  as  it  were,  habitual, 
and,  therefore,  more  endurable,  they  boheld  with  yearning 
commiseration  the  unsupplied  wants  of  one  to  whom  the 
privation  came  with  the  severity  of  an  untried  affliction. 
Bryan  well  knew  the  power  of  that  stimulus  which  he  had 
applied ;  he  followed  it  up  by  a  prayer  such  as  they  alone 
can  pour  forth  on  whom  is  laid  the  chastening  hand  of  the 
Lord  ;  and  closed  the  exercise  v;ith  those  impressive 
words  that  the  suffering  Protestants  were  often  w^ont  to 


228  DERRY. 

appropriate,  "  My  hoart  and  my  flesh  failcth  :  but  God 
is  the  strength  of  my  heart,  and  my  portion  for  ever.'' 

"  Now,  Mr.  Morrison,"  said  Magrath,  "  'tis  time  for  us 
to  be  going.  You've  a  sorrowful  iiour  before  ye.  Sir  : 
but  the  sorrow  is  all  to  you — she's  done  with  it  for  ever." 
Morrison  grasped  his  h.md,  unable  to  reply  ;  and  with 
Bryan  they  proceeded  to  the  place  of  melancholy  rendez- 
vous. 

"  Lady,"  said  Ross,  "  shall  I  ever  attain  to  this  trium- 
phant spirit  of  self-surrender,  which  shines  out  so  beauti- 
fully in  those  around  me  1.  Kemoved  as  I  am  far  away 
from  every  near  connection,  and  under  no  apprehension 
for  their  security,  I  seem  exempted  from  the  trial  under 
which  I  should  probably  be  found  to  fail." 

"  Say  not  so,  my  young  friend.  Your  faith,  too,  will 
be  tried,  for  it  is  no  less  precious  than  that  of  others  ; 
you  too  will  be  scourged  :  for  what  son  is  he  whom  the 
Father  loveth^nd  chasteneth  not  1  But  the  time  and 
the  mannei'  are  in  his  hand.  Your  cross  is  prepared, 
though  as  yet  you  may  not  feci  its  pressure  on  your 
shoulder." 

"  I  often  wish  that  I  did,"  said  Ross. 

The  Lady  smiled.  "  If  your  tender  mother,  and  the 
sisters  who  love  you,  could  witness  that  emaciated  frame, 
those  cheeks  of  famine,  and  the  disabling  wound  that  holds 
their  Frederick  in  tedious  captivity,  would  they  not  im- 
plore the  mitigation  of  a  cross  so  heavy  V 

"  Yes  ;  individually  considered,  I  grant  that  I  might  be 
deemed  a  sufferer.  But  when  I  look  around  me  at  the 
widowed  husband,  the  bereaved  brother,  the  childless 
parent,  and  above  all,  when  I  look  at  my  multiplied  trans- 
gressions, I  cannot  but  ask,  oh,  why  is  the  rod  so  lightly 
laid  upon  one  whose  demerits  call  for  its  most  unsparing 
strokes  !" 

"  Believe  me,  Ross,"  said   the  Lady  earnestly,  "  the 


DERBY.  229 

iatter  consideration  is  one  of  the  most  perilous  snares 
spread  in  the  path  of  God's  afflicted  children  by  their  in- 
•defatigable  enemy.  You  know  now  somewhat  of  the 
plague  of  your  heart ;  you  feel  the  burden  of  those  sins 
that,  through  your  life,  have  grieved  a  cojnpassionate 
Father  ;  and,  conscious  of  your  desert,  you  invite  the 
punishment  which,  for  the  glory  of  his  justice,  you  feel 
willing  to  endure." 

"And  is  that  wrong  1"  asked  Ross. 

"  Alas !  were  he  to  reckon  with  you  for  the  least  of  all 
your  transgressions,  hell  must  be  your  portion,  and  that 
for  ever.  I  have  witnessed  much  of  this  dangerous  spirit 
among  our  sufferers,  and  therefore,  my  son,  would  1  warn 
you.  He  who  considers  that  the  punishment  of  his  of- 
fences is  to  be  laid  upon  himself,  will,  when  heavily 
afflicted,  regard  the  chastening  as  meritorious  in  God's 
sight,  and  make  a  Savior  of  his  own  endurance.  When 
you  behold  in  the  sacrifice  once  offered  on  Calvary,  a  full, 
perfect,  and  sufficient  sacrifice  and  satisfaction  for  all  your 
sins,  when  in  the  undeviating  obedience  of  the  incarnate 
Son  of  God  you  see  a  justifying  righteousness,  and  lay  hold 
■on  it,  and  make  it  all  your  plea,  then  will  you  be  strength- 
ened to  suffer  and  to  do,  according  to  the  will  of  him  who 
must  be  to  you  all  that  you  require — wisdom  and  right- 
eousness, and  sanctification  and  redemption." 

"  I  see  som.ewhat  of  this,"  said  Ross,  after  a  few  mo- 
ments of  deep  thought  ;  and,  raising  his  eyes,  he  added, 
"  Oh,  for  more  of  that  divine  teaching,  by  which  even  I 
may  become  instructed  in  the  things  of  God  !" 

During  this  discourse — to  the  Lady  of  M'Alister  most 
richly  refreshing,  as  another  token  of  accepted  prayer — 
the  party  who  had  left  the  house  bent  their  way  to  the 
gate  at  w^hich  Connellan  had  appointed  to  meet  them. 
Late  as  was  the  hour,  there  was  little  appearance  of  repose 
within  the  walls  of  Derry  :  on  the  contrary,  there  seemed 
20* 


'230  DERRY. 

a  greater  stir  than  by  day :  a  temporary  respite  from  bom- 
bardment, combined  with  the  frt'shness  of  the  night  breeze 
that  swept  over  Loch  Foyle,  having  tempted  many  to 
leave  the  covert  into  which  they  had  been  driven  during 
the  glare  of  a  sultry  sun,  rendered  doubly  oppressive  by 
the  perpetual  explosion  of  gunpowder  in  every  street. 
Of  the  better  sort,  many  felt  an  insuperable  reluctance  to 
expose  the  squalid  wretchedness  of  their  unwashed  gar- 
ments and  blackened  visages,  even  to  the  gaze  of  partners 
in  afiliction  ;  and  among  all  classes  there  were  mourners 
whose  very  heart-strings  had  been  rent,  while  the  objects 
of  their  tenderest  love  perished  miserably  before  their 
eyes,  and  to  whom  the  darkness  seemed  more  congenial 
than  the  day.  To  this  may  be  added  the  appalling  fact, 
that  their  principal  support  now  consisted  of  such  animals 
as  might  be  discovered  prowling  about  the  haunts  of  fa- 
mine, under  the  cover  of  night ;  and  these  were  sold  at  a  high 
price  by  those  whose  love  of  money  overcame  the  cravings 
of  hunger,  or  who  had  a  surplus,  after  deadening  that  crav- 
ing by  a  scanty  meal  on  such  loathsome  fare  as  they  had 
seized.  Dogs  were  turned  out  in  the  evening,  to  prey 
upon  the  unburied  bodies  of  those  who  had  been  slain 
without  the  walls ;  and  on  their  return  were  slaughtered 
to  furnisli  a  meal  for  the  faiplly,  at  whose  hands  the}-  had 
once  been  plentifully  fed.  To  such  extremity  had  the 
garrison  been  reduced  before  the  end  of  July,  that  a  single 
quarter  of  one  of  these  dogs  was  priced  at  five  shillings 
and  sixpence  of  their  currency,  and  his  head  at  half  that 
sum.  Even  a  cat  was  gladly  purchased  whenever  it 
could  be  found,  for  four  shillings  and  sixpence  ;  and  ani- 
mals yet  more  disgusting  to  the  human  palate  in  propor- 
tion. 

Such  being  the  condition  of  the  beleaguered  fortress, 
the  imagination  may  perhaps  sketch  an  outline — it  cannot 
by  any  possibility  fill  up  the  picture — of  what  was  pass- 


DEERY.  S31 

ing  under  the  midnight  sky  of  Derry.  One  object  appear- 
ed to  possess  attraction,  even  for  the  most  reckless  wan- 
derer ;  and  that  was  the  double  beacon  which  sent  its  red 
columns  on  high  from  the  cathedral  roof.  It  was  the  ap- 
pointed signal,  communicating  to  the  tardy  fleet  the  des- 
peration of  that  distress  which  tliey  alone  could  relieve  : 
and  to  the  hollow  eyes  upturned  towards  the  glare,  it  pre- 
sented a  sort  of  link  between  them  and  the  objects  of  that 
oft-defeated  hope  which  they  could  not  relinquish.  It 
was  piteous  to  see  the  wistful  countenances  with  which 
many  would  pause  to  gaze  upon  this  unconscious  messen- 
ger of  their  grief  j  as  though  by  so  doing  they  could  com- 
municate to  it  additional  power  of  expressing  what  they 
longed  to  send  to  the  eye  and  the  heart  of  unfeeling  Kirke. 
Seen  under  its  ruddy  blaze,  the  broken  windows  of  the 
cathedral,  the  shattered  walls  and  dismantled  buildings 
around  it,  roofs  ploughed  up  by  innumerable  bombs,  and 
wood-work  blackened  by  the  frequent  ignition  that  had 
marked  the  progress  of  red-hot  cannon  balls — all  these 
things  united  to  produce  such  a  spectacle  of  wretchedness, 
as  the  mind  will  shrink  from  dv/elling  upon.  Yet  happy 
had  it  been  for  poor  Ireland,  could  that  scene  have  lived 
indelibly  engraven  on  the  memory  of  her  Protestant  race, 
as  an  abiding  stimulus  to  incessant  exertion  in  the  peace- 
ful and  holy  warfare,  whereby  alone  the  souls  of  their  de- 
luded countrymen  can  be  rescued  from  the  usurping  pow- 
ers of  darkness  and  cruelty  ! 

Absorbed  as  he  was  in  the  contemplation  of  his  indivi- 
dual calamities,  Morrison  could  not  pass  along  the  street 
of  Derry,  an  indifferent  spectator  of  these  things.  His 
heart  melted  over  the  sorrows,  and  glowed  in  the  devoted 
heroism  of  the  sufferers  around  him.  "  Methinks,"  he 
remarked  to  Bryan,  "  it  would  be  a  sore  reproach  to  walk 
among  these  martyrs,  if  I  bore  not  a  portion  of  their 
cross,  in  humble  anticipation  of  sharing  with  them  the 
crown." 


232  DERRY. 

*'  True  for  you,  Sir,"  eagerly  responded  Magrath  :  *'  It 
was  myself  felt  the  sanu',  and  couldn't  ri;^l)tly  look 
them  in  the  face  till  my  hand  and  heart  went  along  with 
theirs.  It  isn't  the  starving  among  them,  Mr.  Morrison, 
that  gives  one  a  fellowship  in  their  troubles:  'tis  knowing 
what  we  KufTer  for,  and  being  willing  to  suffer,  though  a 
man  were  left  standing  alone  for  the  cause,  and  every 
back  turned  upon  him." 

"  And  what  do  we  suffer  for,  Magrath  V  asked  Colonel 
Murray,  who,  unperceivcd,  had  joined  them,  and  walked 
beside  the  animated  speaker. 

"  Troth,  Colonel,  I'm  somehow  bothered  to  tell  the  mat- 
ter clearly,  but" he  hesitated  ;  then  turning  full  upon 

the  I  inquirer,  he  made  a  stand,  and  raising  his  voice,  em- 
phatically uttered,  "  Sir,  we  suffer  for  our  God,  and  for  our 
country." 

"  I\Iost  true,  Magrath  ;  and  from  yon  that  testimony  is 
invaluable.  It  is  not  long  since  you  held  us  the  direst 
enemies  of  bothu" 

"  I'll  not  be  denying  it,  your  honor:  but  now  I've  learn- 
ed God's  will  out  of  his  own  word  myself:  and  I'll  suffer 
to  death,  rather  than  not  see  my  poor  country  share  in  the 
blessing.  They  are  God's  enemies  that  wouldn't  let  his 
mighty  works  be  made  known  to  the  people  ;  and  they 
are  Ireland's  foes  who  blind  her  people  from  seeing  the 
glory  of  God's  truth.  If  Derry  fell,  we'd  soon  see  the  dead 
idols  set  up  over  the  land  ;  and  the  living  Word  buried  out 
of  sight.  'Tis  to  hinder  this,  Colonel  Murray,  that  we 
gladly  sufler ;  and  in  the  name  of  God  and  poor  Ireland,  I 
say,  '  No  suereisder  !'  " 

The  last  words  were  uttered  with  a  shout,  while  he 
waved  his  hat  exultingly.  That  watchword  was  caught 
by  the  surrounding  population,  Murray  himself  being  the 
first  tore-echo  it ;  and  like  an  electric  shock  the  impulse 
was  communicated,  until  a  hundred  hands  were  raised,  and 


DERRY.  233 

a  hundred  voices  pealed  the  inflexible  resolve,    "  No  sor- 

RENDER   !" 

Murray,  after  this  ebullition  of  patriotic,  and  more  than 
patriotic  feeling  had  subsided,  turned  with  graceful  courte- 
sy to  Morrison,  just  as  Bryan  was  about  to  pronounce  his 
name.  "  I  need  not,"  he  said,  "any  other  medium  of  in- 
troduction than  the  deep  and  heartfelt  «ymjxithy  that  must 
draw  me  towards  one  who  has  done  and  undergone  so  much 
in  the  sacred  cause  which  binds  us  all  together.  Your 
name,  Mr.  Morrison,  is  familiar  to  me  ;  as  are  the  many 
good  deads  that  adorn  it.  In  yielding  a  hearty  assent  to 
the  request  of  our  honest  Magrath,  Governor  Walker  grati- 
fies his  own  feelings,  no  less  than  he  hopes  to  soothe  yours. 
He  w^ould  have  expressed  this  in  person  ;  but  unavoidable 
engagements  detain  him  for  two  hours  longer.  At  the  end 
of  that  time,  he  A\'ill  be  ready  to  perform  the  last  solemn 
offices  over  one  whose  grave  will  be  bedewed  with  many  a 
tear.  Meantime  I  attend,  his  willing  representative,  to 
sanction,  and  in  every  way  to  put  such  honor  as  we  can 
upon  this  mournful  duty." 

Morrison  expressed  most  warmly  his  grateful  sense  -of 
such  delicate  attention  ;  while  M'Alister  enjoyed  increas- 
ed satisfaction  in  finding  that  his  roof  had  sheltered  a  valua- 
ble and  active  laborer  in  the  cause  for  which  it  was  his  dear- 
est privilege  to  endure  the  loss  of  all  things. 

They  had  now  reached  the  gate,  Murray's  presence  af- 
fording a  most  welcome  countenance  to  the  proceeding  ; 
and  on  a  given  signal,  that  gate  which,  seven  months  before, 
had  been  the  first  to  close  against  the  enemy,  swung  back 
upon  its  hinges  to  admit  the  lifeless  remains  of  one  who  had 
perished  under  that  enemy's  implacable  cruelty. 
.  The  body  was  laid  on  a  rude  bier,  a  dark  coarse  sack 
being  thrown  over  it,  the  better  to  conceal  the  nature  of 
its  freight.  Before,  however,  any  one  could  enter  the  half 
opened  portal,  Magrath  presented  himself  at  an  aperture. 


^4  DERIPy. 

and  in  Irish,  demanded  whether  all  was  (air  and  honora- 
^ble. 

"  You  need  not  doubt  it,""'  answered  Connellan,  in  the 
same  language.  "  My  own  officer  is  on  duty  here,  and 
not  a  Frenchman  near  us." 

"  This  is  my  old  comrade,  Colonel,"  said  Magrath  to 
Murray.  "I'll answer  for  him,  if  once  he  gives  us  his 
word  :  the  other  I  don't  know." 

By  Murray's  direction,  Connellan  was  told,  that  in  con- 
sideration of  his  compassionate  interference,  he  was  weL 
•come,  if  such  his  wish,  to  attend  the  body  to  its  last  resting- 
place:  pledging,  of  course,  his  promise  to  take  no  undue 
advantage  of  such  discoveries  as  he  might  make.  The  as- 
<}urance  was  given  to  Magrath's  satisfaction,  and  Connellan, 
with  the  bier,  entered  the  eventful  gates. 

A  considerable  number  of  persons  had  gathered  around 
them :  and  many  proffers  were  made  with  indications  of 
respectful  sympathy,  to  assist  in  bearing  the  humble  car- 
riage to  the  burial  ground  :  but  Morrison  himself  took  the 
■place  of  Connellan's  former  helper,  while  Bryan  and  Ma- 
grath each  raising  one  of  the  poles,  the  bier  was  thus  car- 
ried onward,  followed  closely  by  Colonel  Murray,  and  a 
long  train  of  voluntary  mourners,  who  arranged  themselves 
in  procession  behind  them. 

It  was  now  that  the  full  tide  of  sympathy  seemed  to  set 
m  with  an  uninterrupted  flow^  towards  the  widowed  hus- 
band ;  nor  could  he,  amid  his  smothered  anguish,  be  in- 
sensible to  its  soothing  power.  Appropriate  texts  of  Scrip- 
ture, touching  allusions,  sentiments  of  .^elevated  piety  and 
holy  resignation,  fell  continually  upon  his  ear :  while  the 
haggard  looks  of  those  who  uttered  them,  bespoke  how 
needful  to  themselves  was  the  consolation  that  they  tender- 
ed to  an  afflicted  brother. 

Arriving  Avithin  the  church-yard,  there  was  a  temporary 
halt,  preparatory  to  the  opening  of  the  cathedial  door  ;  and 


DERBY.  235 

Magrath  suggested  the  removal  of  the  uncouth  covering,  to 
be  replaced  by  a  sheet,  which  he  had  considerately  provid- 
ed. He  had  previously  ascertained  from  Connellan  that 
all  was  neat  and  respectful  about  the  corpse.  "Some  poor 
Irishwoman,"  said  he  to  Morrison,  "  undertook  to  settle  the 
dear  lady  in  her  little  bed ;  and  you'll  find  they've  not  ne- 
glected it." 

It  proved  so :  the  placid  countenance  was  uncovered' 
beneath  the  flickering  light  of  the  beacon  ;  for  other  torch 
could  ill  be  affcrded.  The  oil  was  spent,  the  remaining 
wood  stored  up  to  feed  the  v/atchfire  :  and  tallow  was  be- 
eome  an  article  of  food,  eagerly  purchased  at  four  shillings 
the  pound. 

Morrison,  nearly  overcome,  seated  himself  on  the  bier ;, 
and  with  clasped  hands  gazed  on  the  sweet  face  that 
had  never  failed  to  meet  his  eye  with  smiles  of  con 
jugal  affection.  The  bystanders  pressed  nearer,  after 
a  short  silence  of  pitying  respect  j  and  by  degrees 
their  words  reached  his  ear  with  somewhat  of  intelligible 
meaning. 

"  These  are  they  which  came  out  of  great  tribulation," 
said  one :  and  another  added,  "^  They  were  slain  for  the 
testimony  of  Jesus-'* 

A  grey-haired  man,  raising  his  folded  hands  above  his- 
head,  and  casting  up  his  eyes,  fervently  ejaculated,  "  The 
noble  army  of  martyrs  praise  Thee  !" 

A  famished  mother,  pressing  in  her  arras  the  living  skel- 
eton of  a  child  of  two  years  old,  bent  over  the  corpse,  and 
repeated,  in  the  bitterness  of  agonized  feeling,  "  They  shaU 
hui^er  no  more,  neither  thirst  any  more  :"  while  a  school- 
boy, gently  touching  the  shoulder  of  the  silent  mourner 
tendered  his  little  mite  of  consolation  by  whispering  a 
Lsatin  line, 

Dulce  et  decorum  est  pro  patria  niori. 

"  Sweet  and  becoming  indeed  it  is,  my  child,"  respondetJ 


^ 


DLRRV. 


aljystander,  "  to  die  for  our  beloved  country,  a  willing  vic- 
tim in  that  cause,  which  with  us  is  no  less  the  cause  of  God." 

The  door  was  now  unlocked,  a  taper  provided,  and  the 
body  havinjr  been  borne  into  the  church,  Morrison  was  left 
awhile  to  indulge  his  grief  alone  over  the  beloved  remains. 

Connellan  looked  around  him  with  a  mixture  of  surprise 
and  painful  interest,  not  altogether  divested  of  hostile  feel- 
ing's ;  while,  heedless  of  his  presence,  the  group  pursued 
the  subject  that  seemed  for  a  time  to  have  absorbed  their 
individual  sorrows.  "  I  beheld  the  lady's  death,"  said  one, 
"  and  could  not  but  thank  God  when  I  saw  she  was  really 
gone.  It  was  a  quick  passage  at  last,  after  some  grievous 
tossings  on  the  troubled  sea  of  affliction." 

"  Alas  !"  exclaimed  a  female  near  him,  "  did  you  see  the 
parting  with  b.er  children  \  Yonder  are  the  graves  of  my 
two  darlings,  cut  off,  the  elder  by  the  sword,  and  the  other 
by  the  pestilence,  within  a  fortnight.  I  did  not  begi-udge 
them  in  the  cause  ;  but  I  never  felt  how  mercifully  1  had 
been  dealt  with,  until  I  saw  that  lady's  children  driven  frdm 
her  side  to  wander  through  a  scene  of  horror,  and  cruel- 
ty, and  blood :  without  a  friend  to  watch  over  their  young 
heads." 

"  Without  a  friend !"  ejaculated  another.  "  When  did  the 
best  of  Friends  forsake  those  who  cheerfully  took  their  cross 
for  him  1  We  know  better  :  we  have  tasted  his  mercy. 
He  hath  delivered  us,  he  doth  now  deliver  us :  and  in  him 
we  trust  that  he  will  more  fully  tmd  triumphantly  deliver  us 
yet." 

"  It  must  be  by  a  strong  force,  at  any  rate,'  said  Connellan. 

"  There  is  no  restraint  with  the  Lord,  brother,  to  save  by 
many  or  by  few  ;"  mildly  answered  the  old  man  who  had 
before  spoken.  "  All  power  is  his,  and  he  wields  at  will 
the  armies  of  heaven  no  less  than  the  elements  of  earth.  By 
the  waves  of  the  sea  were  Pharaoh  and  his  host  overwhelm, 
ed  :  by  the  soundings  of  rams'  horns  did  proud  Jericho's 
bulwarks  fall.     A  few  lamps  concealed  in  pitchers  wrought 


DERRY.  237 

the  defeat  of  the  many  thousands  of  Midian :  and  when 
the  haughty  Sennacherib  lay  encamped  around  the  city  of 
David,  even  as  yonder  our  enemies  encompass  our  city, 
an  angel  was  sent  forth  at  dead  of  night,  who,  with  noise- 
less destruction,  slew  at  once  a  hundred  and  eighty-five 
thousand  of  these  boastful  Assyrians.  This  God  is  our  God  : 
his  hand  is  not  now  shortened,  nor  his  power  in  aught  dimi- 
nished. For  the  better  trial  of  our  faith,  deliverance  is  de- 
layed ;  but  in  the  appointed  hour  it  will  come — it  will  come, 
and  not  tarry." 

"  And  is  this  the  way  that  you  encourage  yourselves  to 
hold  out  1"  asked  Connellan,  with  a  shrug. 

"  Ay,  it  is — it  is,"  responded  many  voices  :  and  some  ad- 
ded, "  We'll  stand  to  our  guns  while  we  can  lift  a  match 
to  them." 

"  That  won't  be  long,"  obser\^ed  Connellan,  looking 
round  him  with  more  of  pity  than  of  scorn. 

"  Perhaps  not,"  replied  Magrath  :  "  but  when  we  can't 
move  a  hand  to  help  ourselves,  what  follows  V 

"  Why  your  town  will  be  captured  at  once." 

"  Captured  is  it  \  Sorrow  a  bit  do  we  fear  that.  It  isn't 
yet  that  the  Derry  men  have  lost  the  trick  of  peppering 
their  friends  outside  :  but  when  God  takes  it  out  of  our 
hands,  he'll  take  it  into  his  own.  With  his  own  right  hand, 
and  with  his  holy  arm,  he  will  get  for  himself  the  victory  !" 
and  this  he  again  repeated  in  Irish. 

A  hum  of  applause,  restrained,  by  delicacy  towards 
Morrison,  from  breaking  out  into  a  cheer,  followed  this 
apostrophe :  and  Connellan,  to  change  the  subject,  asked 
why  they  kept  that  great  fire  on  the  top  of  the  church. 
Various  replies  were  given,  chiefly  in  a  jesting  strain :  one 
saying  it  was  to  assist  the  enemy  in  rightly  pointing  their 
guns  and  mortars  ;  another,  that  it  was  used  to  fumigate, 
their  town  being  none  of  the  sweetest.  A  third  remarked 
that  it  would  be  wanted  to  roast  the  oxen  and  sheep  which 
21 


238  DF.RRY. 

lliey  intended  to  take  in  the  next  sally  ;  while  Bryan 
more  truly  observed  that  a  pillar  of  fire  having  been  for- 
merly the  signal  of  God's  presence  among  his  people,  the 
token  of  his  guidance,  and  pledge  of  their  deliverance,  it 
could  not  but  cheer  them  to  be  rem'mded,  whenever  they 
looked  towards  the  house  of  prayer,  of  those  works  and 
wonders  of  old,  the  contemplation  of  which  was  their  un- 
failing encouragement. 

"  Here  comes  the  Governor,"  said  Magrath.  "  Now, 
Connellan,  we'll  show  you  a  better  friend  to  poor  old  Ire- 
land than  your  camp  contains." 

•'  He's  an  Englishman,"  obsen'ed  Connellan,  sullenly. 
"  He's  not  a  Frenchman,"  warmly  responded  Magrath. 
"  He's  not  wading  through  Irish  blood  to  enslave  the  land  : 
to  keep  it  in  darkness,  and  shut  out  the  blessed  light  of 
truth." 

Walker  now  approached  ;  and  Connellan,  from  under 
his  bent  brows,  took  a  keen  and  curious  survey  of  a  man 
whom  hp  had  more  than  once  seen  in  the  confusion  of  a 
skirmish,  but  who  now  appeared  in  a  garb  better  suited  to 
the  sacred  profession  which  he  had  so  often  merged  in  that 
of  the  warrior.  Tlie  Governor's  countenance  bore  testi- 
mony that  he  had  fully  participated  in  the  privations  of 
the  suffering  garrison  :  but  his  air  was  more  lofty,  his  step 
more  firm,  his  eye  more  animated  than  in  days  when  hope 
was  buoyant,  and  their  present  extremity  of  want  alto- 
gether unthought  of.  Slowly  and  majesticallv  this  singu- 
lar man  walked  through  the  opening  crowd,  with  every 
individual  of  whom  he  seemed  to  be  on  terms  of  personal 
acquaintance.  There  lacked  not  several,  even  among 
those  then  before  him,  in  whose  bosoms  rankled  the  feel- 
ing of  envy,  suspicion,  or  dislike ;  but  the  observing  eye  of 
Connellan  operated  as  a  check  upon  them  ;  and  care  was 
taken  to  maintain  in  his  presence,  at  least,  the  semblance 
of  unanimous  attachment  to  their  celebrated  leader.     On 


DERRY.  239 

arriving  at  the  place  where  Bryan  stood,  Mr.  Walker 
stopped  short,  addressing  him  in  words  of  familiar  friend- 
ship ;  and,  apologizing  for  the  delay  in  his  arrival,  inquired 
for  the  person  who  had  acted  so  humane  a  part  towards 
the  slaughtered  lady. 

Connellan  was  immediately  pointed  out,  and  respect- 
fully returned  the  Governor's  recognition. 

"  Sergeant,"  said  Walker,  in  that  abrupt  phrase,  which 
generally  told  well  among  the  troops,  "  it  seems  you  have 
not  yet  met  a  mutineer's  fate." 

"  Nor  ever  will,  Sir,"  answered  Connellan,  sternly. 

"  The  French  are  worse  masters  than  the  English,"  con- 
tinued Walker. 

"  English  or  French,"  retorted  Connellan,  almost  fierce- 
ly, "Ireland  needs  no  masters, — she  can  govern  herself." 

"  James  Stuart  thinks  otherwise,"  said  Walker,  with  a 
half  smile ;  and  slowly  passed  on. 

The  principal  door  of  the  church  was  thrown  open, 
and  thither  in  silence  the  spectators  followed  their  clerical 
governor.  Murray's  considerate  kindness  had  provided 
the  unwonted  luxury  of  a  coffin,  which  had  been  private- 
ly introduced  through  a  side  door,  by  attendants  who 
assisted  Morrison  to  enclose  the  beloved  remains  in  that 
narrow  receptacle.  When,  therefore,  the  bier  was  again 
discovered,  it  supported  the  coffin,  and  over  it  was  thrown 
a  pall :  Morrison  stood  at  the  feet,  not  far  from  the  reading- 
desk,  on  which  two  tapers  were  lighted,  casting  their 
feeble  glimmer  upon  his  pallid  countenance,  while  with 
folded  arms,  and  tearless  eye,  he  steadfastly  gazed  on  the 
inanimate  object  before  him.  Connellan  pressed  forward, 
accompanied  by  Bryan  and  Magrath,  and  followed  by  a 
considerable  number  of  persons.  It  was  Walker's  custom 
to  render  everything  as  far  as  possible  conducive  to  the 
grand  concern  so  near  his  heart  j  and  no  man  better  knew 
how  to  give  a  powerful  effect  to  such  means  as  came  with- 


240  DERRY. 

in  Ills  roach.  The  present  was  an  inviting  occasion,  not 
only  to  strengthen  his  friends,  but  to  display  be  forean 
enemy  that  unshak'>n  constancy,  that  vivid  interest  in  their 
glorious  cause,  by  which  alone  he  could  entertain  a  hope 
of  ultimate  triumph.  At  the  moment  of  uncovering  his 
head,  and  stepping  forward,  he  broke,  with  startling  sud- 
denness, the  deep  and  deathlike  stillness  of  the  scene,  by 
uttering  in  the  most  sonorous  tones  of  his  powerful  voice, 
the  sublime  commencemen'  of  that  service  whicli  he  came 
to  perform.  "  I  am  the  Resurrection  and  the  Life,  saith 
the  Lord  :  he  that  believeth  in  mi^,  though  ho  were  dead, 
yet  shall  he  live  ;  and  whoso.ner  liveth  and  believeth  in 
me,  shall  never  die." 

Here  he  ceased,  advancing  in  silence  until  he  stood  be- 
side the  bier,  over  which  he  stretched  his  right  hand, 
standing  erect  in  stately  dignity  ;  and  turning  full  towards 
the'  listening  audience,  whose  eyes  were  fixed  upon  him, 
he  addressed  to  them  the  next  of  those  impressive  sen- 
tences;  giving  to  it  an  emphasis  of  enthusiasm  not  to  be 
described,  "  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth  ;  and  that  he 
shall  stand  at  the  latter  day  upon  the  earth  :  and  though 
after  my  skin,  worms  destroy  this  body,  yet  in  my  flesh 
shall  I  see  God,  whom  I  shall  see  for  myself,  and  mine 
eyes  shall  behold  him,  and  not  another." 

The  last  apostrophe  followed,  after  a  second  solemn 
pause,  during  which  he  bent  his  head  with  a  thoughtful 
and  compassionate  gaze  upon  the  cotfin.  "  We  brought 
nothing  into  this  world,  and  it  is  certain  that  we  can  carry 
nothing  out  of  it."  Then  raising  his  eyes  to  Morrison,  he 
concluded,  in  a  voice  of  really  touchins;  pathos,  "Brother, 
the  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away ;  blessed  be 
the  name  of  the  Lord." 

Walker  then  ascended  the  desk,  and  proceeded  to  read, 
or  rather  to  recite,  in  a  most  animated  strain,  the  magnifi- 
cent lesson  from  the  fifteenth  chapter  of  the  first  Epistle  to 


DERRY.  24  ] 

the  Corinthians,  while  Magrath,  almost  unconsciously, 
whispered  it  close  to  the  ear  of  Connellan,  in  the  beloved 
language  of  his  country  and  his  heart. 

It  was  now,  indeed,  that  the  hostile  visiter  might  take 
an  accurate  survey  of  those  who  had  so  long  bade  defiance 
to  the  united  efforts  of  Rome  and  France — so  long  resisted 
the  evil  spirits  of  Ireland's  worst  delusion,  with  a  con- 
stancy of  endurance  scarcely  to  be  paralleled  in  the  annals 
of  human  fortitude.  Already  had  the  morning  put  on  the 
tints  which  promised  a  speedy  brightening  into  day.  The 
windows,  retaining  scarcely  one  unbroken  pane  of  glass, 
gave  ready  entrance  to  her  beam  ;  and  from  the  casements 
of  surrounding  houses  was  reflected  the  deep  red  blaze  of 
the  beacon  above.  Every  head  was  bare,  every  counte- 
nance up-turned  towards  the  minister,  receiving  from 
the  eastern  window  a  full  portion  of  light,  and  exhibiting 
such  traces  of  famine,  such  wrinkles  of  care  and  sorrow, 
such  a  fixedness  of  earnest  tho\ight,  while  communing  in 
spirit  with  that  eternity  on  the  visible  borders  of  which 
their  daily  path  was  held,  that  all  Connellan's  feelings  be- 
came softened  into  a  mixture  of  pity,  wonder,  and  invol- 
untary respect ;  while  his  heart  secretly  pleaded  that  the 
suflTerers  before  him  were  but  defending  their  native  soil 
from  the  inroads  of  a  foreign  enemy, — were  but  rallying 
round  the  altar  of  their  fathers,  for  the  faith  in  which  they 
had  lived  and  died. 

When  the  procession  moved  towards  the  grave,  Con- 
nellan resumed  his  former  station  as  a  bearer;  his  subdued 
tones  giving  testimony  to  the  effect  of  what  he  had  wit- 
nessed, on  a  heart  replete  with  Irish  susceptibility. 
Magrath  observed,  and  rejoiced  in  the  change ;  resolved  to 
follow  up  the  advantage  gained,  with  all  the  powers  of  his 
versatile  mind. 

The  coffin  was  deposited  in  its  final  resting-place,  amid 
the  unfeigned  sympathy  of  many,  who  had  recently  borne 
21* 


242  DERRY. 

to  that  burial  ground  the  remains  of  all  that  their  hearti 
chorishtcl.  Hitherto  Walker  had  acted  in  his  sacred 
character,  perforiuirifj  its  functions  in  such  wise  as  to  in^i^ress 
the  spectators  with  that  holy  submission  which  the  beauti- 
ful fonnulary  is  adnurably  calculated  to  nourish  in  every 
(Christian  breast ;  but  he  ceased  not  ht're ;  on  ebbing  his  book, 
he  assiuui'd  un  altitude  of  animated  earnestness,  and  com- 
menced an  harangue  addressed  to  the  sterner  j>;i'-^iiins. 
which  it  was  his  |X>licy  to  keep  perpetually  awake. 

He  pointed  to  the  open  grave,  charactt  ri/.ini;  it  ai  the 
glorious  couch  of  a  martyr  ;  and  waving  his  hand  around, 
extended  that  character  to  the  innumerable  mounds  that 
had,  during  the  h<t  f'W  months  changt'd  the  aspect  of 
the  place,  ami  filled  to  repb-tion  the  yawning  appetite  of 
the  king  of  terrors.  He  apostrophized  those  moulder- 
ing ashes  to  utter  an  articulate  voice,  protnsting,  even 
from  the  grave,  against  the  merciless  ban-dogs  of  infuriate 
Rome.  He  reverted  to  the  massacre  of  H)U,  sketched 
the  partial  outrages  of  intervening  years,  expatiated  on 
the  treachery  that  had  doomed  the  inhabitants  of  Derry  to 
the  knife,  and  which  would  have  been  glutted  with  their 
blood,  only  for  the  closing  of  those  impregnable  gates. 
He  stigmatized  the  native  Irish  as  willing  instruments  in 
the  hands  of  butchering  priests,  bent  on  the  df'stniction  of 
everything  Protestant,  and  sworn  to  delude  Ireland  with 
blood,  so  long  as  any  power  remained  with  them.  Refer- 
ring again  to  the  victim  whom  they  had  then  interred,  he 
dwelt  upon  the  dreadful  scenes  enacted  under  their  very 
walls  a  day  or  two  before ;  asking  whether,  after  such  a 
specimen  of  popish  cruelty,  his  hearers  could  hesitate  in 
preferring  the  most  lingering  or  excruciating  death,  to  any 
league  that  could  be  formed,  any  agreement  that  could  be 
concluded  with  the  vassals  of  perlidious  Rome  ?  Exulting 
over  the  numbers  who  had  been  slain  in  their  various  sal- 
lies, he  spoke  of  them  as  so  many  irreconcileable  fo<?s  laid 


DERBY.  243 

prostrate  beneath  their  feet :  auguring  a  complete  subjuga- 
tion of  the  island  to  Protestant  authority.  Ashe  concluded, 
some  inconsiderate  partizan  proposed  a  cheer  for  King 
William ,  and  the  call  was  obeyed,  but  by  no  means  una- 
nimously. This  war-note  seemed  to  grate  on  the  feelings 
of  many,  attuned  so  recently  to  holier  strains.  Morrison 
turned  away,  evidently  much  pained ;  Bryan  passed  his 
arm  through  his,  addressing  him  in  a  low  tone;  and 
Magrath,  apparently  under  great  excitement,  seized  a 
shovel  wherewith  to  fill  in  the  earth,  putting  another  into 
Connellan's  hand,  and  calling  on  him  in  Irish,  to  finish  his 
good  work  for  a  countrywoman  of  his  own.  There  was  a 
bitterness  in  the  emphasis,  which,  accompanied  with  a 
quick  glance  towards  Walker,  spemed  to  bespeak  a  dis- 
claimer of  any  such  tie  in  that  quarter  ;  and  when  the  par- 
tial cheer  was  given,  he  did  not  scruple  to  utter  pretty 
audibly,  the  very  dissimilar  note  of  "  Erin  go  bragh  !" 

The  general  cast  of  Connellan's  countenance  was  dark 
and  stern  in  no  common  degree  :  shaggy  eyebrows,  closely 
contracted  by  the  deep  furrows  of  an  habitual  frown,  were 
wont  to  conceal  the  flashes  of  an  eye  that  never  quailed 
before  crt-ated  being,  though  frequently  cast  down  to  mask 
its  glittering  animation,  when  some  ulterior  purpose  re- 
quired the  sacrifice  of  present  impulse.  Magrath  had  of- 
ten marked  the  momentary  struggle,  in  which  his  comrade 
rarely  failed  to  lay  a  curb  upon  his  strongest  nt^tural  pro- 
pensities, and  gather  in  the  lightnings  that  would  fain 
have  dealt  destruction  around  him  ;  in  the  present  occa- 
sion he  witnessed  no  such  conflict,  for  Connellan's  features 
were  wrapped  in  a  cloud  of  sullen  scorn  ;  but  Magrath 
had  found  himself  too  nearly  touched,  to  doubt  that  Con- 
nellan's towering  spirit  writhed  under  what  had  been 
spoken. 

They  were  soon  left  alone  at  their  work,  Bryan  having 
seated  JMorrison  near  the  grave  of  his  mother,  and  holding 


-44  TEHRY. 

tliscourse  with  him,  so  as  to  preclude  all  likelihood  of 
overhearing  iho  Irishmen,  who  conversed  in  their  national 
dialect. 

"  It's  a  sorrowful  story  that  Hryan  M'Alister  is  telling 
yonder,"  said  Alagrath. 

"  Many  such  stories  may  they  have  to  tcH  !"  .'xclaimed 
Connellarj,  in  a  strrn  and  bitter  tonr.  "  What  are  the  sor- 
rows of  such  intruding  strangers,  to  the  tale  that  Ireland 
can  give  of  her  children's  sutferings  under  their  hateful  op 
pression  !  They  have  sowed  in  hlood — let  them  reap  de- 
struction—they brought  a  curse  into  the  land;  let  it  be 
their  meat  and  thi-ir  drink — let  it  poison  their  life,  and 
dis(juiet  their  graves!" 

"  Vou  are  wrong,  Connellan,"  said  Magrath.  "  He  that 
loved  cursing  never  yet  inherited  a  blessing  for  his  own 
portion." 

"And  is  not  that  what  I  am  saying  !  "fis  well  that 
bloody-minded  prir'st  threw  oil'  the  sheep's  skin  and  dis- 
played the  wolf.  I  was  becoming  as  soft  as  a  child,  and 
doubting  whether  my  hand  could  again  point  a  gun  at  the 
wretched  beings  who  crowded  that  battered  building.  I 
forgot  they  were  English — sassenachs — enemies  to  God 
and  man  ;  so  smoothly  lay  the  serpent  coiled  under  the 
green  herbage.  Ay,  Magrath,  I  could  have  calbd  them 
Irish  ;  could  have  made  common  cause  with  them,  and 
manned  these  walls  to  drive  the  more  recent  invader  back 
to  his  home." 

"  You  were  right  there,  Connellan  :  the  Irish  bhxxl  is 
in  them,  or  never  could  thoy  have  shown  this  endurance. 
Yet,"  he  added,  checking  himself,  "  God  can  give  to  any 
man,  of  any  country,  wisdom  and  faithfulness  to  stand  by 
his  cause,  when  he  knows  it  to  be  the  cause  of  taith." 

"  But  theirs  is  the  cause  of  error  and  falsehood ;  of 
heresy,  tyranny,  and  treachery." 

"As  to  falsehood  and  heresv,  Connellan,  you  and   I 


TERRY.  245 

could  know  no  more  of  that  matter  than  the  priests  were 
pleased  to  tell  us ;  and  judge  you  what  sort  of  teachers 
they  must  be,  who  now  sell  the  country  to  a  parcel  of 
foreigners,  more  insolent  and  cruel  than  any  who  have 
ever  before  tainted  the  land.  Tyrants  there  have  been,  of 
English  race  ;  but  the  first  and  the  worst  were  of  the  same 
faith  with  your  priests ;  and  as  lor  treachery,  let  Dermod 
M'AIurtough  tell  who  was  the  traitor.  We  have  all  gon*' 
astray,  comrade  ;  and  astray  we  must  still  go,  till  we  gel 
a  guide  that  cannot  err,  to  put  us  in  the  right  way." 

"  Such  a  guide  who  shall  find  V 

"  'Tis  found,  Connellan  ;  and  if  followed  we  can  never 
go  wrong.  The  words  that  you  heard  this  morning  were 
part  of  God's  book :  and  that  book  is  the  only  lamp  to 
liglit  us  in  the  right,  path.'^ 

"  Away  with  such  woman's  talk !"  exclaimed  Connel- 
lan :  "  The  words  were  smooth,  and  fell  pleasantly  upon 
the  ear  ;  and  1  deny  not  that  they  helped  to  lull  my  better 
feelings  into  a  dangerous  slumber. .  But  marked  you  not 
the  contrast  between  those  words,  read  fluently  from  a 
printed  book,  and  the  burning  thoughts  that  issued  in  na- 
tural language  from  the  heart  of  that  heretic  priest  \  No, 
no :  trust  me,  ^lagrath,  they  are  alike — children  of  one 
race,  and  priestcraft  is  the  same,  call  it  what  you  will. 
The  legend  of  a  saint  may  be  given,  in  the  way  of  trade, 
from  altar  or  pulpit,  and  in  the  same  way  may  such  dis- 
courses as  we  now  heard  be  dealt  forth  to  listening  fol* 
lowers,  breathing  only  peace,  and  love,  and  pious  resigna* 
tion  ;  but  hatred  burns  in  their  hearts  the  while,  and  that 
mutual  hatred  will  still  break  out,  whether  in  the  priestly 
whisper  of  our  secret  confessional,  or  the  open  harangue  of 
a  Protestant  rufllan,  laughing  to  scorn  the  sanctimonious 
hypocrisy  of  their  public  ministrations.  Vengeance,  the 
cry ;  blood  is  the  demand  :  and,  mask  it  as  you  will,  ex- 
terminating hatred  prompts  both  priest  and  minister." 


246  DERRY. 

Ucfore  Megrath  could  n'ply,  the  grave  Wing  Tilled, 
Morrison  and  Bryan  approached.  The  former,  grasping 
Connellan's  rrliicUmt  hand,  iiKjuired  if  there  was  any 
possible  means  wht'^chy  ho  Qould  manifest  his  grateful 
sense  of  the  obligation  under  which  he  was  laid. 

''  Xone,  Sir  ;  we  are  enemies,  and  enemies  we  must  re- 
main, I  would  ask  of  you  yet  to  be  a  maidy  foe  ;  and 
when  th«  weak  and  the  helpless  fill  within  your  grasp, 
remember  that  Connellan,  though  a  despised  Irish  savage, 
could  not  look  on,  when  the  wife  of  his  enemy  was  mis- 
used by  a  heartless  foreigner.'' 

''  Call  me  not  your  enemy,  Connellan,"  said  .Morrison, 
deeply  affected.  ''  I  too  am  Irish,  and  my  spirit  weeps 
over  the  woes  of  my  country,  the  alllictions  of  her  chil- 
dren." 

"  We  will  not  argiie  that  point,  .Mr.  .Morrison,  I've  done 
my  duty:  and  if  more  than  my  duty,  let  it  be  remembered 
in  the  right  place."  He  crossed  himself;  and  handing 
the  shovel  to  .AIngrath,  prepared  to  depart. 

"Connellan,'  said  Hryan,  "j)oor  and  unsatisfactory  as 
is  the  refreshment  that  I  can  otler,  still — "  the  Irishman 
interrupted  him : 

"  .Air.  M -A lister,  sooner  than  take  one  mouthful  from 
your  starving  townsmen,  I'd  go  and  blow  the  brains  out 
of  yonder  French  Mareschal,  and  make  my  breakfast  on 
them.  No,  Sir ;  had  I  my  wish,  I  would  feed  you  all  first, 
and  tight  you  afterwards.  God  and  the  Virgin  give  poor 
Ireland  a  happy  deliverance  from  all  her  foes,  whatever 
name  they  are  called  by  !"  and  saluting  the  gentlemen 
with  an  air  in  which  respect  and  defiance  were  strangely 
blended,  he  hastened  away,  followed  by  Magrath. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 


liN  the  course  of  the  day  which  followed  the  interment 
of  Mrs.  Morrison,  Colonel  ^lurray  paid  a  visit  to  the 
widowed  husband,  whom  he  found  engaged  in  earnest 
conversation  with  his  friends.  "  Let  me  not, '  he  said, 
after  the  first  kind  greeting  had  passed,  "  let  me  not  in- 
terrupt your  discourse.  United  as  we  are  in  striving  to 
uphold  a  righteous  cause,  it  cannot  be  thai  any  individual 
member  of  our  common  body  should  suffer  or  rejoice  with- 
out exciting  the  sympathy  of  all."' 

"  Our  discourse.  Colonel  Murray,"  replied  Ross,  "  was 
indeed  on  a  topic  of  public  interest  ;  one  on  which  opin- 
ion seems  much  divided,  and  where  we  should  like  to  hear 
your  sentiments.  The  Governor's  address  this  morning 
to  the  spectators — I  should  rather  say  the  mourners,  as- 
sembled in  the  churchyard  : — was  it  or  was  it  not  judi- 
cious 1" 

"  Pardon  me,  my  dear  Ross  ;  but  you  are  aware  how 
much  I  deprecate  the  habit  of  sitting  in  judgment  on  the 
words  or  actions  of  constituted  authorities  ;  particularly 
when,  as  in  the  present  case,  the  thing  is  done  past  re- 
call." 

"  There's  a  silencer  for  you,  Magiath,"  said  Ross. 

''  May  be  not,  your  honor,"  replied  Magrath,  who  ap- 
peared to  have  been  much  ruffled.     "  It's  the  popish  way, 


24S  DKKuy. 

05  myself  woll  knows,  to  silence  a  man  without  convinc- 
ing him.  'Tisn  t  in  jiuigrm  nt  that  I'd  presume  to  sit  ;  but 
when  men  are  perisliiuj;  by  scores  and  by  hundred:}  in  a 
cause  that  is  dearer  to  them  than  their  heart's  biwxl,  they 
shouldn't  bo  misrepresented,  and  that  before  an  enemy,  aa 
if  they  were  doinij  the  deNil's  own  work." 

"  Softly,  my  good  lad,"  said  Hryan. 

"  No,  no  :  out  witli  your  grievance,  Macirath,"  said 
Murray,  good-humoredly.  ''  'Tis  some  misunderstand- 
ing that  I  may  perhaps  be  able  to  dear  up.  (Jovemor 
Walker  misrepresent  his  Derry  Boys  !  Von'v.-  h»'cn 
dreaming  on  an  empty  stomach,  I  »uspect." 

"  Is  it  dreaming  I  was,  y<Mir  honor  \  Truih,  and  my 
stomach  may  be  empty,  but  my  heart  is  too  fidl  Uj  dream. 
Why  then,  Sir,  I'll  tell  you,  and  your  two  ears  will  bear 
me  witness,  that  the  Ciovernor  halloed  us  on  like  a  pack 
ol  blootl-iiounds  ;  and  if  '  Kevenge'  wasn't  his  woril,  I'll 
be  bound  that  every  soul    present  lilt  'twas  his  meaning." 

"  And  have  we  not  much  to  revenge  V  asked  the 
Colonel,  somewhat  warmly. 

''  You  have,  Sir  ;  and  GotI  give  you  vengeance,  ever- 
lasting vengeance  upon   her  that   is  drunk  with  the  blood 

of  the  Saints — that  mother  of  Harlots  that" and  his 

veliemence  increa>ed  until  he  was  obliged  to  have  recourse 
to  his  native  language  for  greater  freedom  of  expression. 

•'  He  is  quoting,"  said  Bryan,  "  some  of  the  awful  de- 
nunciations of  scripture  against  the  apostate  church,  which 
he  now,  at  last,  most  deeply  feels  to  be  indeed  the  destroy- 
er of  our  country.  This  excitement  is  carried  beyond  due 
bounds  ;  but  the  scent?  at  his  parting  with  Connellan  cer- 
tainly offers  some  palliation.  Come,  Magrath  ;  be  com- 
posed, and  relate  once  more  what  passed  at  the  gate." 

Magrath  obeyed ;  addressing  Murray,  he  requested  his 
pardon  for  being  so  rough  in  his  presence,  and  then  told 
him,  that  on  reaching  the  walls  with  Connellan,  he  had 


IffiRRY.  249 

endeavored  to  set  before  his  comrade  the  misery  into 
which  both  the  country  and  the  souls  of  her  people  were 
plunged,  by  the  selfish  machinations  of  that  crafty  priest- 
hood, whose  teaching  they  both  knew,  from  personal  ex- 
perience, to  be  so  decidedly  contrary  to  the  gospel  of  love 
and  peace.  He  represented  the  contest  in  which  they 
were  engaged,  not  as  one  of  individual  hostility,  but  as  a 
struggle  on  the  part  of  the  Protestants  to  preserve  that 
light  by  which  alone  the  darkness  of  the  land  could  be 
dispelled  ;  and  their  efforts  as  directed  to  the  subversion 
of  the  anti-christian  power,  by  whom  a  foreign  host  had 
been  invited  to  assist  in  fixing  more  deeply  the  fetter, 
which  the  priests  were  perpetually  inciting  them  to  cast 
off.  "  Didn't  I  tell  him,"  added  Magrath,  with  increasing 
vehemence,  "  that  himself  and  me  well  knew  the  cry 
had  been,  '  away  with  the  English  yoke  ;'  that  from  fath- 
er to  son  they  told  it  to  the  babe  in  his  cradle,  and  talked 
it  over  the  old  man's  coffin,  how,  since  bloody  Henry  set 
foot  in  the  land,  Ireland  had  never  known  the  sunshine  of 
peace — how  the  strings  of  her  harp  were  broken,  and  the 
song  of  her  bards  was  silenced,  and  sorrowful  under  the 
blasted  oak  of  her  mountain,  sat  Erin — cuislile-ma- 
chree  !" 

"  This  is  poetry,  Magrath,"  said  Murray,  smiling,  as 
he  looked  on  the  flushed  cheek  of  the  excited  Irishman. 

"  It  is  poetry.  Colonel  Murray  :  and  it  kindles  the 
heart  of  many  a  one  whose  hands  are  made  ready  to  the 
work  of  death.  But,  Sir,  I'm  to  speak  of  Connellan.  I 
told  him  all  this,  and  then  I  asked  him.  Isn't  James  Stuart 
an  English  king  ^  Isn't  it  the  English  yoke  that  you're 
fighting  to  strengthen  \  and  doesn't  it  prove  that,  English 
or  French,  any  foreigners  may  have  the  help  of  the  priest, 
if  they'll  but  support  him  in  making  merchandize  of  the 
people's  souls  \  Now,  Colonel  Murray,  if  Connellan  had 
agreed  with  me  ;  if  he'd  been  convinced,  as  myself  had 
been,  that  such  is  the  truth,  what  would  have  followed  ?" 
22 


'250  PERRY. 

"  Why,  we  should  have  gained  another  adherent,  Ma- 
grath." 

"  Ay,  Sir,  and  an  honest  one  :  and  the  same  would  hare 
been  lost  to  the  enemy.  He'd  have  seen  that  your  I'oe  is 
Ireland's  foe ;  and  that  is  the  way,  the  only  way,  to  break 
down  the  power  that  ruins  my  country.  Derry  might  fall 
to-morrow,  and  myself  be  the  first  that  should  throw  the 
gates  open,  only  that  I  look  for  peace  to  grow  out  of  this 
bitter  war.  God  has  said,  '  Destroy  it  not,  for  a  blessing  is 
m  it.'  " 

"  I  agree  most  heartily  with  you,  Magrath :  but  how 
does  this  alfect  the  Governor's  speech  I" 

"Sure  and  it  was  that  did  all  the  harm  !"  exclaimed 
Magrath,  indignantly.  "  Coimellan  told  me  that  he  had 
many  a  thought  come  over  him  like  what  I'd  been  saying: 
and  only  for  hearing  how  Avell  the  Protestants  kept  their 
account  for  old  grievances,  and  how  they'd  be  reckoning 
still  on  hunting  down  the  native  Irish  like  wild  beasts,  to 
be  rooted  out  before  the  land  could  have  peace,  he'd  been 
likely  to  join  us.  But  that  hour  was  past  :  truth,  he  said, 
would  out,  and  since  poor  Ireland  had  no  friends,  he'd  but 
perish  in  defying  her  foes." 

"  So  much,"  observed  Morrison,  "  for  the  illustration 
which  has  brought  home  to  Magrath's  feelings  the  distinc- 
tion between  the  mere  casket  of  nominal  Protestantism,  and 
the  precious  jewel  that  lies  within  it.  Mr.  Walker  s  ha- 
rangue was  doubtless  well  calculated  to  rouse  the  indig- 
nant spirit,  and  nerve  the  animal  courage,  by  which  the 
military  defence  of  these  walls  may  be  protracted  until  suc- 
cor shall  arrive,  and  our  dt-liverance  be  wrought ;  but  the 
question  arises,  how  far  will  this  event  be  made  subservient 
to  the  welfare  of  our  sutiering  country  ?" 

"  It  cannot  be  otherwise, '  answered  Murray.  "  What- 
soever tends  to  the  establishment  of  Protestantism,  must 
conduce  to  the  overthrow  of  its  hateful  opponent.      Let 


DERRY.  251 

William  of  Nassau  be  firmly  seated  on  the  throne  of  these 
realms,  let  a  Protestant  succession  be  ensured,  Protestant 
ascendency  take  deep  and  abiding  root,  we  shall,  we  must 
see  prosperous  days,  shining  ere  long  on  our  poor  distract- 
ed island." 

"  This,  too,  is  conceded,"  said  the  Lady  of  M'Alister, 
"  but  we  are  all  agreed  as  to  the  meaning  of  that  word  so 
precious  to  our  hearts  1  Do  we  fully  comprehend  what  is 
included  in  that  single  term  Protestantism  V 

"  I  hope  so,"  said  Murray. 

"  I  fear  it  is  grievously  misunderstood,"  remarked  Bry- 
an :  and  Ross  added,  "  To  that  I  can  bear  testimony,  for 
no  one  more  vauntingly  claimed,  or  more  successfully  won 
the  c  haracter  of  a  staunch  Protestant  than  myself  How 
for  I  was  from  deserving,  or  even  com.prehending  the  name, 
I  am  every  day  more  feelingly  taught :  nor  is  tlie  lesson  yet 
perfect." 

"  Explain  yourself,"  said  Bryan. 

"  Why,  truly,  I  considered  Protestantism  as  a  principle 
that  should  become  exceedingly  active  and  warlike  in 
troublous  times  :  but  which  might  safely  go  to  sleep  in 
seasons  of  tranquillity.  So  long  as  the  papist  made  a  hos- 
tile show,  I  held  myself  bound  to  offer  uncompromising  re- 
sistance ;  but  let  me  succeed  in  establishing  my  own  reli- 
gion, secure  from  his  innovations,  and  he  was  welcome  to 
the  snug  enjoyment  of  his  darling  delusions.  In  insurrec- 
tionary days,  I  had  sword  and  pistol  wherewith  to  put  him 
down  :  right  order  restored,  my  purse  was  at  his  service  for 
the  building  of  a  chapel,  or  for  the  collection-piste  of  a 
conventual  school.  I  laughed  at  his  dogma  of  transubstan- 
tiation  and  abhorred  the  idolatrous  absurdity  of  his  image 
worship  ;  yet  for  the  music  of  a  mass,  or  the  raree-show 
of  a  nun's  profession,  I  could  mingle  in  the  crowd,  a  seri- 
ous and  respectful  looker-on.  Heartily  believing  that  the 
popish  priesthood  constituted  the  abiding  curse  of  the  land. 


252  DBRRY. 

still,  in  private  society,  or  on  a  public  occasion,  I  felt  it 
my  duty  to  place  his  reverence  next  in  honor  to  tin-  Pro- 
testant clergyman  ;  and  liy  no  sjx>l<en  word,  or  overt  act 
of  dissent,  to  remind  him  that  his  creed  was  the  object  of 
my  reprobation  ;  his  abuse  of  its  assumed  authority  the 
ground-work  of  my  country's  destruction.  Now  this  is  the 
empty  shell  and  husk  of  Protestant  pmfVssion  ;  fit  only  to 
be  cracked,  and  flung  into  the  fire." 

"If  such  be  only  the  shell,"  ohstrved  .Murray,  "I 
should  like  to  hear  the  dffmition  of  what  you  conceive  to 
be  the  kernel." 

"  I  refer  you  to  Bryan  M'Alister." 

"  You  might  have  made  a  fitter  choice,"  replied  IJryan, 
''  but  I  acc(  ]it  the  (  fl!ce.  You  have  well  described  the  un- 
substantial Protestantism  of  multitudes  :  how  diflerent  is 
that  vital  principle  of  a  pure  faith,  Avhich  holds  an  unde- 
viating,  unflinching  protest  agninst  the  powers  of  a  darken- 
ing delusion  !  The  former,  altogether  selfish,  starts  into 
angi'y  resistance  if  the  circle  of  its  own  privileges  be  threat- 
ened with  encroachment :  and  having  reptll'd  the  invad- 
er, it  coils  itself  within  its  narrow  boundary,  leaving  the 
soul  of  its  neighbor  to  perish  in  its  sin.  The  latter,  di- 
vinely taught  to  look  '  not  every  man  on  his  own  things 
only,  but  every  man  also  on  the  things  of  others,'  seeks  not 
to  purchase  a  momentary  repose  by  such  dishonest  conni- 
vance; it  wages  exterminating  war,  not  against  the  ene- 
my, but  against  the  enmity — not  against  the  deluded  pa- 
pist, but  against  the  popery  which  constitutes  his  delusion. 
Yes,  real  Protestantism  will  seek  to  establish,  even  in  tem- 
poral things,  its  just  and  lawful  dominion  ;  but  this  it  will 
make  subservient  to  the  far  higher  and  nobler  purpose  of 
bringing  souls  into  willing  subjection  to  the  righteous  gov- 
ernment of  Christ.  Real  Protestantism  never  slumbers, 
never  is  off  its  watch-tower :  its  very  name  argues  that 
there  is  always   something  against  which  to   protest,   and 


DERBY.  253 

that  something  is  known  to  be  the  enemy  of  God  and  man, 
an  enslaver  of  souls,  and  an  usurper  of  the  temple  of  the 
Lord.  When  the  wretched  bond-slaves  of  that  anti-chris- 
tian  despotism  take  the  carnal  weapons,  and  march  onward 
to  root  out  and  destroy,  real  Protestantism  is  tender,  most 
tender  of  their  lives  ;  for  willingly  it  would  not  send  one 
unrepentant  soul  to  the  judgment-seat  of  Christ :  but  know- 
ing that  its  Author  and  Finisher  is  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  it 
casts  its  cause  on  his  Almighty  arm  ;  and,  humbly  using 
the  allotted  means,  waits  for  tlie  deliverance  which  shall 
glorify  his  name." 

Exhausted  by  the  fervency  of  his  spirit,  the  weakened 
frame  of  M'Alister  demanded  a  momentary  pause.  It  was 
one  of  unbroken  silence ;  but  with  many  it  was  one  of  se- 
cret prayer.     Bryan  resumed : 

"  Real  Protestantism,  when  the  Lord  has  given  it  rest 
from  external  enemies,  will  improve  that  season  to  the  ex- 
tension of  its  Master's  kingdom.  Tenderly  concerned  for 
the  souls  of  men,  it  will  go  into  the  dens  of  spiritual  tyranny, 
preaching  '  deliverance  to  the  captives,  the  opening  of 
the  prison  to  them  that  are  bound.'  By  no  act,  by  no 
passive  acquiescence,  will  it  sanction  the  deeds  of  dark- 
ness, or  connive  at  the  thraldom  of  a  single  soul.  He  who 
contributes  to  the  building  of  a  popish  chapel,  he  who  si- 
lently looks  on  when  God  is  dishonored  in  a  popish  mass, 
CEASES  TO  BE  A  Protestant — he  is  identified  with  the 
abominations  against  which  it  is  his  calling  to  protest. 
And  oh,  how  far,  how  immeasurably  removed  from  the 
standard  of  real  Protestantism,  is  he  who,  by  the  right 
hand  of  fellowship  externally  given  to  the  false  and  idola- 
trous shepherd,  assists  to  confirm  his  sway  over  the  delud- 
ed flock  whom  he  is  leading  to  perdition." 

"  Pardon  me,'  said  Colonel  Murray  ;  "  but,  cordially  as 
I  must  needs  concur  in  the  greater  part  of  your  animated 
description,  I  do  not  see  how  we  can  carry  the  protest  so 
2--* 


254  DERRT. 

openly  into  tho  (lomostic  circle,  whese  wo  must  occa- 
sionally come  in  contact  with  tht*  priest  of  Rome.  It  is 
not  every  man  amonp  us,  in  fact  there  are  hut  very  few, 
who  can  enter  upon  thf  controvrrtrd  points  of  doctrines  : 
and  must  we,  hy  such  a  hostile  carriaj^e,  provoke  the  en- 
counter when  there  is  no  rational  hope  of  any  thing  better 
than  a  mortifying  defeat  ?' 

"  Your  (|U(^slion,  (.'nlonel,"  replied  .'M'A lister,  "  involves 
another  cxj)os\ire  of  the  lamentable  defect  in  our  nominal 
Protestantism.  The  word  of  God  enjoins  every  man  to 
be  able  to  '  give  to  him  that  asketh  a  reason  of  the  hope 
that  is  in  him ;'  no  person  who  can  scripturally  do  this, 
need  fear  the  result  of  even  a  controversial  encounter  with 
a  man  whose  creed  opposes  the  fundamental  doctrines  of 
the  all-suflicienl  atonement  of  Christ,  and  justification  by 
faith  in  that  atonement.  Real  Protestantism,  therefore, 
will  never  need  to  shrink  from  such  unmasked  avowal  of 
its  principles,  as  shall  call  forth  a  statement  of  opposing 
creeds  :  and  this  it  will  the  more  readily  do,  because  the 
minister  of  a  false  religion  is  himself  also  a  man,  within 
the  reach  of  converting  grace,  liable  to  be  convinced  by 
the  spirit  of  God  :  and  open  to  the  cheering  '  peradven- 
ture,'  that,  through  the  gentleness  with  which  the  servant 
of  the  Lord  will  be  '  apt  to  teach,'  in  '  meekness  instruct- 
ing them  that  oppose  themselves,'  repentance  may  also 
be  given  to  him  for  the  acknowledging  of  the  truth.  Such 
has  often  been  the  case ;  such  was  the  progress  of  that 
blessed  Reformation  which  began  with  the  conversion  of 
a  solitary  Augustine  monk." 

"If  your  estimate  of  real  Protestantism  be  just,"  said 
Murray,  thoughtfully,  "  and  I  cannot  gainsa}'  any  part  of 
it — alas  for  the  great  bulk  of  those  whom  we  call  the  Pro. 
testants  of  Ireland  ! ' 

"  And  alas  for  Ireland  !"  added  Morrison,  "  if  her  hope 
of  permanent  prosperity  be  built  on  what  our  friend  has 


DERRY.  255 

aptly  designated  as  empty  nutshells.  Victory  may  yet  be 
ours :  and  a  successful  ascendency  be  established  in  the 
government  of  the  country  ;  but  where  shall  we  look  for 
security  against  a  future  explosion  of  these  terrific  ele- 
ments, which  we  leave  within  the  grasp  of  the  prince  of 
the  power  of  the  air,  instea^l  of  putting  forth  our  spiritual 
strength  to  wrest  them  for  ever  from  his  hand. ' 

"  Yet  let  me  add  one  lovely  feature  of  real  Protestant- 
ism," said  Bryan.  "  It  knows  not  the  unhallowed  thirst 
for  revenge  which  characterizes  the  carnal  mind.  Emulat- 
ing the  glorious  example  of  him  who  says  of  his  people, 
'  Their  sins  and  iniquities  I  will  remember  no  more,'  the 
sin  alone  is  hated,  the  sinner  is  pitied  and  forgiven.  Our 
poor  countrymen  now  do  the  bidding  of  those  who  delude 
their  souls,  and  bind  their  consciences  in  fetters :  our  work 
is  not  to  take  vengeance  on  them  for  such  erring  obedi- 
ence, but  to  convince  them  that  the  influence  under  which 
they  act  is  alike  opposed  to  the  will  of  God  and  to  their 
own  well-doing.  Is  their  sin  against  us  of  darker  dye  than 
that  of  the  Jews  in  crucifying  the  Lord  of  Glory,  that  we 
should  not,  in  recurring  to  past  outrages,  take  up  the  lan- 
guage of  Peter,  '  And  now,  brethren,  I  wot  that  through 
ignorance  ye  did  it' — '  Repent  ye  therefore,  and  be  con- 
verted, that  your  sins  may  be  blotted  out,  when  the  times 
of  refreshing  shall  come  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord.'  " 

"  There !"  exclaimed  Magrath,  striking  his  hands  to- 
gether, "  there's  the  blessed  truth  of  God's  own  word,  to 
encourage  poor  ignorant  rebels.  A  long  day  it  would 
have  been  before  Larry  JMagrath  took  the  name  of  a  Pro- 
testant, if  the  story  that  was  told  him  hadn't  been  a  story 
o'  peace  :  and  Connellan's  proud  heart,  that's  now  break- 
ing in  sin  and  despair,  might  have  softened  and  turned  un- 
der this  very  roof,  only  for  Governor  Walker's  speech. 
Myself,  that  ought  to  have  known  better,  felt  all  the  Irish 
blood  in  a  blaze  about  me  j  and  what  blame  to  Connel- 
lan  1." 


256  PERRY. 

The  conversation  appeared  to  sink  deep  into  Murray'fl 
mind,  which  was  of  no  common  cast :  but  the  dflicate 
situation  in  which  lio  stood,  involving  him  in  fre(juent 
dilticultios  between  contending  factions,  induced  a  degree 
ot  extt'rnal  caution,  uncou<;»'niaI,  and  ofti-t»  irksonie,  to 
liis  frank  disposition.  Abundant  opportunities  had  been 
affbrded  liim  of  verifying  the  distinction  just  drawn  be- 
tween genuine  Protestantism  and  that  political  bias  which 
assumes  the  nan^e.  Orten  had  such  prDmising  slulls  of 
fa'u-  profession  invited  his  contidince,  while  strengthening 
his  hope  in  the  stability  of  the  cause  :  and  then,  on  a  more 
mature  inspection,  had  proved  allt)gether  empty,  or  per- 
haps inhabited  by  l)itterness  and  corruption.  Colonel 
I\Iurray  already  knew,  far  better  than  he  cared  to  ac- 
knowledge, that  Derry  owed  not  its  defence,  nor  would 
Ireland  ever  l)e  indebted  for  lu-r  drliverance,  to  such  ad- 
herence as  worldly  minds  display,  even  to  the  most  right- 
eous cause.  He  had  witnessed  the  defection  of  some,  con- 
cerning whom  he  had  entertained  the  most  sanguine  ex- 
pectations from  their  blind  and  headlong  devotion  to  the 
interests  of  what  they  calh-d  the  Protestant  faith  :  while 
others  who,  like  Bryan  ]\I'.\ lister,  appeared  comparatively 
cold,  and  almost  timidly  reluctant  to  take  the  sword  against 
their  wretched  countrymen,  had  siiown  themselves  en- 
dowed with  invincible  courage,  and  such  an  enduring  for- 
titude as  could  not  be  shaken.  Ross,  in  the  recent  change 
so  clearly  evidenced  by  his  discourse,  afforded  an  instance 
of  this :  for  Murray,  as  he  looked  upon  him,  read  in  the 
sobered  and  settled  expression  of  his  countenance,  a  spirit 
of  determination  more  fixed,  than  he  had  ever  traced 
when  the  young  man  was  found  in  the  van  of  every  des- 
perate sally :  in  the  language  that  bewailed  the  fate  of  his 
deluded  countrymen,  Murray  discerned  a  better  promise  of 
inflexible  hostility  against  all  compromise,  than  in  the  loud 
and  vehement  execrations  with  which  he  had  been  wont  to 


DERRY.  257 

load  them  and  their  cause.  And  fervently,  though  se- 
cretly, was  he  led  to  wish  that  Derry  had,  from  the  first, 
been  garrisoned,  or,  at  least,  that  it  could  now  be  exclu- 
sively defended,  by  such  men  as  were  before  him,  under 
the  roof  of  the  M'Alisters. 

There  was,  indeed,  much  to  occasion  the  most  serious 
misgivings  in  the  minds  of  those  who  knew  the  actual  state 
to  which  the  stores  of  the  city  were  reduced :  what  this 
was,  mi^ht  be  pretty  well  guessed  by  the  inhabitants, 
when,  on  the  ninth  of  July,  it  was  announced  that  the 
garrison  allowance  to  be  served  out  for  that  day's  sub- 
sistence was,  to  each  man,  a  pound  of  tallow.  This  was 
the  soldier's  fare  ;  the  miserable  citizens  had  no  such  regu- 
lar supply,  whereon  to  depend :  and  they  were  to  be  seen 
in  every  corner,  raking  among  the  rubbish  with  which  the 
bombs  had  overspread  their  little  gardens,  their  bony 
fingers  eagerly  grasping  every  decayed  leaf  of  even  the 
most  common  weeds  ;  while  many  strolled  out,  in  the 
carelessness  of  desperation,  beyond  the  gates,  to  collect 
whatever  the  waters  of  Lough  Foyle  might  have  cast 
upon  the  beach,  devouring  the  sea-weed  as  a  dainty, 
though  its  only  effect  was  to  render  more  intolerable  the 
burning  thirst,  to  slake  which,  few  could  obtain  a  cup  of 
cold  water ;  so  high  was  the  price  set  upon  the  refreshing 
beverage,  by  those  who  must  place  their  lives  in  immi- 
nent hazard  to  procure  it.  When,  therefore,  on  the  fol- 
lowing day,  bombs  were  thrown  into  the  town,  containing, 
in  lieu  of  gunpowder,  the  most  inviting  proffers  from  Gen- 
eral Hamilton,  to  such  as  should  be  willing  to  surrender 
the  fortress,  it  became  a  matter  of  most  anxious  calcula- 
tion how  far  the  leaders  could  depend  on  those  placed  un- 
der their  command.  It  was  with  a  beating  heart  that 
Bryan  M'Alister  communicated  to  his  friend  Ross,  the 
morning  after  this  discovery,  that  a  parley  had  been  agreed 
upon,  and  that  a  council  was  about  to  be  held  for  the  dis- 


-'58  PERRY. 

ciission  of  that  subject,  rt'plote  witfi  nwful  intrrrst  to  tlwm 
ill — the  surrender  of  the  city. 

"Surrender!"  exclaimed  Ross,    tirtui^  iioin  las  chair. 
•  never,  M'Alister,  never  !" 

"  It  must  not  be,"  said  the  Lady  ;  "  we  niav  not  deliv- 
T  up  our  stronghold  ;  we  may  not  renounce  our  trust  ■' 
we  must  not  make  ourselves  a  scorn,  and  our  hope  a  deri- 
sion to  those  who  have  hitherto  been  defied  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord  of  Ibxsts." 

"  What  excust!  upon  earth  Imve  tiiey  found  for  such  a 
project  /"  asked  Ross. 

"  The  dreadful  strait  to  which  we  arc  reduced  in  point 
of  provision  ;  the  rapid  decrea-se  of  the  pirrison  by  dtath 
and  overpowering  disease  ;  the  disappearance  of  the  ships, 
which  drop  away  from  their  distant  station,  becoming  in- 
visible tf>  our  lie.st  glasses." 

Mori  ihon,  who  had  entered  as  Ross  put  his  question,  add- 
ed, "  And  disalFection  secretly  expressed  by  some  ;  and 
more  loudly  declared  since  the  insidious  oilers  of  Hamil- 
ton were  circulated  in  the  town." 

Before  Ross  could  commence  the  indignant  reply  which 
was  rising  on  his  lips,  Magrath  came  in,  asking,  "  D^e 
know,  gentlemen,  what's  tothefi)re  this  morning  !" 

"  Ay,"  answered  Ross,  "  and  to  the  fore  it  may  still  be; 
for  I'll  never  believe  that  it  can  be  present  while  there's 
breath  in  one  true  Derry  boy." 

'•  Loni?  life  to  you,  Mr.  Ross,  avoumeen  ;  and  it's  you 
that  will  get  into  Miss  Ellens  chair — didn't  she  bid  us 
hold  out  like  a  rockl — and  we'll  take  you  to  the  Dia- 
mond, where  there's  a  party  assembled  that  mean  to  have 
two  words  to  the  bargain.  It's  no  time  to  be  hesitating 
about  the  trifle  of  life  that's  in  ye  yet :  make  the  most  ol 
it,  and  die  like  a  man.  Sir." 

"  Magrath,  my  noble  fellow,  my  tme  Irishman,"  cried 
Ross,  "  I  would  crawl  there  on  my  hands  and  knees  rather 


DERRY.  259 

than  be  absent.  No  need  for  the  chair,  Larry :  ^ve  me 
your  arm,  and  your's  M'Alister — 'tis  true  you  have  not 
yet  declared  your  purpose,  as  to  this  new  trial  of  our  con- 
stancy, but  you  will  not,  you  cannot" — he  fixed  a  look  of 
anxious  earnestness  on  Bryan  ;  and  ]Magrath,  with  a  broad 
grin,  responded,  "  Declared  himself,  hasn't  he  1  Sure  and 
'twas  not  Mr,  Bryan  who  sent  me  to  collect  the  boys  that 
first  wore  the  white  badge,  and  to  tell  'em  all  that  the  sev- 
enth of  December  was  come  round  again.  Be  asy,  Mr. 
Ross,"  he  added,  as  the  other  put  the  little  wheeled  car- 
riage aside,  "  into  it  you  shall  go,  if  'twas  onh'  to  honor 
her  that  spent  her  last  breath  in  putting  courage  into  our 
hearts.  There,  that's  right ;  and  now,  your  honors,  for 
the  Diamond,  and  no  surrender  !" 

The  Lady  of  M'Alister  watched  them  from  the  doorway 
of  her  dwelling,  in  which,  for  the  first  time,  she  was  left 
perfectly  alone.  With  uplifted  hands  and  overflowing 
eyes,  she  besought  a  blessing  on  the  receding  group  j  and 
then  retired,  to  wrestle  in  more  importunate  fenency  with 
him  to  whom  alone  she  dared  to  look  in  this  extremity  of 
peril. 

When  Ross,  having  left  his  humble  carriage  at  the  en- 
trance, was  led  into  the  room,  supported  by  Morrison  and 
Bryan,  a  movement  of  mingled  gratulation  and  concern 
took  place  among  the  assembled  party.  His  crippled  state 
rendered  his  appearance  yet  more  pitiable  than  theirs,  who 
bore  upon  their  visages  the  impress  of  famine,  and  on  their 
persons  the  worn-out,  uncleanly  garments  that  contrasted 
most  miserably  with  the  gentlemanly  deportment  of  the 
wearers.  Few  among  them  had  of  late  paid  any  regard  to 
outward  purification  ;  it  was,  indeed,  next  to  impossible  so 
to  do  ;  for  water  was  too  precious  to  be  employed  exter- 
nally, and  men  who  were  thankful  to  feast  on  a  dead  dog, 
or  a  handful  of  meal  fried  in  tallow,  were  little  tempted  to 
bring  to  their  disgusting  fare  the  decorations  of  the  toilet. 


260  DEBRY. 

But  there  was  many  a  sunken  eye  now  tlasliing  bnghlly 
beneath  the  rude  mass  of  uncombed  hair  ;  and  th*-  hectic 
color  speckled  many  a  ghastly  cheek,  eager  to  encounter 
a  far  greater  extremity  of  suJlering,  in  the  cause  for  which 
they  were  pledged  to  live  and  to  die. 

"  Vou  are  wrlcome,  Koss,"  said  one  with  a  smile.  "A 
gOO<l  sp»'ctre  added  to  this  most  sepulchral  assembhige.*' 

*'  'Tis  in  contemplation,"  added  another,  "  to  treat  yon- 
der rascals  with  a  display  of  our  plump  condition  ;  we  are 
to  march  out,  a  funeral  exhibition  of  uncoflined  skeletons, 
to  show  what  sore  penance  we  have  undergone,  for  refus- 
ing to  deliver  up  our  town  seven  months  since." 

"  I'll  blow  up  the  magazine  first  !"  ejaculated  a  third. 

"  SoAly,  young  gentlemen,"  said  Morrison,  who  was 
by  some  years  the  elder  of  the  party  ;  "  we  must  delibrr- 
ate,  not  inveigh — time  is  very  precious." 

"  Who  is  he  ?"  was  demanded  in  various  tones,  some 
of  which  sounded  rather  like  those  of  defiance. 

''  A  Protestant,"  answered  Bryan  emphatically  ;  "  one 
who  has  given  many  a  costly  pledge  of  his  immoveable  at- 
tachment to  that  cause  in  which  we  first  closed  our  gates  : 
and  for  which,  with  the  help  of  our  God,  we'll  keep  them 
closed,  until  our  dead  bodies,  piled  against  them,  form  the 
last  barrier  for  Ireland's  enemies  to  force." 

"  We  will  !  We  will  !"  was  responded  in  deep  stern 
accents,  and  with  almost  unanimous  consent  ;  while 
several  extended  their  hands  to  Morrison,  and  some  sug- 
gested that  he  should  be  invited  to  preside. 

"  We  need  not  the  ceremony  of  a  chairman,"  said  he  ; 
"  our  object  is  simply  to  express  the  unchanged  resolve  of 
Derry's  original  defenders  ;  and  to  have  that  declaration 
conveyed  to  the  council,  now  assembling  to  treat  of  sur- 
render." 

The  word  was  echoed  through  the  room,  in  a  murmur 
of  angry  scorn  ;  only  one  or  two  seeming  to  dissent  from 
the  general  feeling. 


DERRY.  261 

"  Brothers,"  said  Bryan  M'Alister,  "  Brother  'Prentices 
— for  that  is  our  proudest  title — we  need  no  eloquence  to 
relate  what  has  been  done  and  endured  within  these  walls 
since  the  Lord  of  hosts  nerved  our  hands  to  combine,  for 
their  defence,  against  the  enemies  of  our  faith,  the  des- 
troyers of  our  country.  That  tale  is  imprinted  on  every 
countenance  before  me  ;  and  it  stands  recorded  in  indeli- 
ble, though  unwritten  characters,  on  the  graves  of  our 
martyred  brethren.  We  assumed  no  weapons  of  aggres- 
sive warfare  :  we  desired  not  to  spill  one  drop  of  Irish 
blood,  but  beholding  ourselves  sold  into  the  hands  of  those 
who  make  merchandize  of  our  countrymen,  and  this  little 
citadel  about  to  be  secured  for  the  final  establishment  of 
anti-christian  supremacy  in  our  island,  we  cast  our  cause 
upon  our  covenant  God,  and  pledged  ourselves  to  uphold 
the  sanctuary  of  our  persecuted  faith." 

An  applauding  assent  followed  his  momentary  pause. 
"  Sufferings,  far  exceeding  our  utmost  calculation,  have 
been  the  conseqiience  ;  not  only  the  malice  of  men,  but 
the  power  of  Satan,  seems  to  have  been  let  loose  against 
us  to  try  our  faith,  and  to  make  proof  of  our  constancy. 
Death  has  received  an  extensive  commission,  the  grave 
has  been  peopled  with  our  dearest  connections,  and  owr 
feelings  have  been  harrowed  up  by  such  an  appeal  as 
never  can  be  forgotten  by  those  \^  ho  looked  down  from 
the  walls  of  Derry  upon  the  agonized  friends  beneath. 
All  this  we  have  borne  ;  we  have  borne  to  encounter  the 
utmost,  in  patient  waiting  upon  our  God,  in  whom  we 
trust  ;  knowing  that  he  is  able  to  deliver  us,  and  made 
willing,  by  his  mighty  power,  to  endure  even  unto  the 
end,  so  that  we  may  but  go  down  to  the  grave  unstained 
with  the  guilt  of  connivance  at  this  deed  of  darkness — this 
betraying  of  our  beloved,  our  unhappy  country,  into  the 
grasp  of  her  children's  most  dire  and  pitiless  foe — Popery." 
23 


262  KF.RRT. 

"  We'll  peri^!h  tirst  !"  was  the  emphatic  exclamation  of 
in;uiy  ;  while  others  vociferated,  ''  No  surrender  !" 

"  And  now,"  said  Koss,  who  saw  that  his  friend  waa 
nearly  exhausted  by  speakin;;  so  lonjr,  "  now  we  are  ap- 
prised that  a  sudden  i)anic  has  seized  some  who  hold  the 
chief  authority  here,  shall  we  let  them  carry  their  plan 
into  execution  without  one  vigorous  protest,  one  solemn 
declaration,  that,  come  what  will,  we  are  no  ]»arties  to  the 
surrender  of  what  we  hold  imnnasurably  dealer  than  our 

life." 

"  A  moment's  pause,  pntlcnien,"  said  Morrison,  aj» 
another  ebullition  of  strong  resolve  was  about  to  a|)pear. 
*'  Let  us  consider  for  whom  and  tor  what  we  hold  this 
important  post.  Is  it  for  a  party — is  it  for  a  name  1  Is 
it  for  the  pride  of  political  ascendency,  or  the  emolument 
derived  from  hereditary  possessions  \  No  :  as  a  Protes- 
tant I  say  that  it  is  not  — but  we  hold  it  for  our  country- 
men, we  hold  it  for  our  posterity.  We  have  here  our 
treasure  of  more  worth  than  myriads  of  material  worlds  ; 
we  have  this  book" — he  held  forth  a  small  bible — "  the 
pure,  unmi.xed,  unmutilated  word,  by  which  alone  poor 
last  sinful  man  can  be  made  wise  unto  salvation,  through 
faith  in  that  only  Savior  to  whom  its  blessed  pages  bear 
witness.  Too  well  do  we  know  that  the  indispensable 
preliminary  to  the  binding  of  our  peo[)le  in  chains  of  dark- 
ness, is  the  withdrawal  of  this  inspired  volume  from  their 
sight  ;  and  wheresoever  Poperj-  is  permitted  to  rear  its 
head,  there  we  find  it  stretching  forth  the  sacrilegious  hand 
to  wrest  away  this  stalF,  to  extinguish  this  lamp,  to  rob  our 
souls  of  this  charter  of  their  freedom.  God  hais  bestowed 
this  precious  book,  as  the  richest  of  all  his  gifts  to  man  ; 
and  dare  we  doubt  that  he  will  yet  put  forth  his  mighty 
power,  to  guarantee  to  us  possession  of  what  he  has  be- 
stowed, that  we  may,  through  it,  make  known  his  won- 
drous works  unto  our  children — through  it,  spread  light 


DERRY.  263 

and  knowledge  among  our  hapless  countrymen,  if  we 
humbly  look  to  him  for  that  help  which  he  can,  in  the 
direst  extremity,  abundantly  convey  \  Lay  this  to  heart, 
my  friends  ;  and  putting  aside  all  angry,  all  vindictive 
feelings,  resolve  in  the  strength  of  your  God  to  defend  his 
choicest  gift ;  in  the  humble,  trustful  hope,  that  some  from 
among  your  besieging  foes  shall  yet  joyfully  share  with 
you  the  treasure  that  ye  now  preserve  for  them  and  for 
your  children." 

This  address  was  received  with  warm  applause,  and  £ 
resolution  was  immediately  passed,  that  a  deputation  of 
three  or  four,  including  Bryan  and  Ross,  should  attend  the 
council,  to  enter  a  solemn  protest  against  capitulation,  on 
any  terms  whatever.  The  delegates  had  but  a  few  paces 
of  the  Diamond  to  traverse,  before  they  entered  the  pre- 
sence of  those  who  were  met  to  decide  the   fate  of  Derry. 

M'Alister  privately  acquainted  Murray  with  the  purport 
of  their  coming  :  the  Colonel  shook  his  head,  with  a  look 
of  despondency  very  unusual.  "  You  are  come  on  a  hope- 
less embassy,  if  your  purpose  is  to  turn  the  council  from 
their  project :  already  are  they  appointing  commissioners 
to  treat  with  the  enemy." 

"  Then  it  is  time  for  us  to  speak,"  Observed  the  other ; 
and  advancing  to  the  Governor,  he  loudly  and  clearly  de- 
livered his  message. 

Walker  frowned.  "  This  painful  necessity,  Mr.  M'Alis- 
ter, is  rendered  doubly  distressing  by  the  unavailing  oppo- 
sition of  our  young  friends.'' 

Ross  did  not  relish  the  slight  emphasis  with  which  the 
word  "  young"  was  marked  :  he  spoke  respectfully,  but  with 
considerable  animation.  "  The}'  were  young  heads,  Mr. 
Walker,  which  first  conceived  the  plan  of  defending  this 
town  ;  young  hands  that  made  fast  those  stubborn  gates  ; 
young  hearts  that  have  been  foremost  to  bleed  in  the  pro- 
tracted conflict  I  and  young  voices  may  surely  be  heard 


264  DERBY. 

in  deprecation  of  a  deed  tliat  must  render  nugatory  all 
their  services." 

"  The  ships  have  disappeared  —the  stores  are  exhausted 
— King  Wilhain  gives  uo  lieed  to  our  extremity  ol  sutler- 
ing.' 

"  The  stores  aie  not  yet  totally  exhausted  ;  the  ships 
may  sail  in  again  as  easily  as  they  have  sailed  out,  and 
King  William — with  loyal  respect  1  speak  it — holds  not 
the  |>o\vtT  to  save  or  to  clcstroy.  We  look  to  a  hifrher 
source  for  rescue." 

"  Very  true,  Mr.  Hoss,"  said  \\  alkcr,  who,  while  from 
policy  he  appeared  to  advocate  the  projKJsed  measure,  in 
his  heart  determined  to  resist  it  to  the  uttermost,  "  very 
true  :  but  il  we  hold  not  this  citadel  for  his  Majesty  King 
William,  and  experience  not  his  royal  countenance,  in 
what  predicament,  I  pray  you,  do  we  stand  ?' 

M'Alister  answered,  "  In  the  predicament,  ?>ir,  of  men 
who  have  experimentally  learned  not  to  put  their  trust  in 
any  child  of  man  ;  for  there  is  no  help  in  them.  We,  as 
loyal  Protestant  subjects,  are  leagued  to  uphold  that  cause, 
which,  to  a  Protestant  government,  must  be  the  strength  of 
its  life.  Imagining  for  a  moment  that  such  a  government 
should  become  blind  or  indillerent  to  that  which  consti- 
tutes its  very  existence,  are  we  therefore  to  assist  in  driv- 
ing the  suicidal  knife  to  its  heart  \  If  King  William,  our 
Protestant  sovereign,  whom  God  preserve  !  or  his  respon- 
sible advisers,  know  not  the  incalculable  value  of  Protes- 
tant loyalty  in  his  Irish  dominions,  must  we  league  in  a 
treacherous  surrender  of  his  dearest  interests,  leaving  it  to 
our  king  and  our  country  hereafter  to  lament  the  error 
when  past  recall  \  No,  Sir :  we  must  yet  be  loyal, 
though  our  loyalty  bore  for  a  day  the  brand  of  disaffec- 
tion :  we  must  withstand  the  enemies  of  our  king,  though 
for  a  little  moment  he  were  beguiled  into  considering  them 
his  friends.     Above  all,  we  must — ay,  and  we  will — con- 


DERRY.  265 

tend  for  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints,  nor  give  the 
adversaries  of  that  faith  occasion  to  blaspheme,  as  though 
we  mistrusted  the  will  or  the  power  of  our  God  to  main- 
tain his  own  righteous  cause,  and  to  magnify  his  great 
strength  in  the  feebleness  of  our  emaciated  band." 

Walker  gave  full  time  for  this  speech  to  take  effect  upon 
the  hearers  ;  then  repeated  his  regret,  that  circumstances 
had  rendered  it  impossible  to  decline  the  proffered  treaty ; 
and,  the  commissioners  being  named,  the  second  day  from 
that — the  thirteenth  of  July — was  appointed  for  the  final 
adjustment  of  those  terms  on  which  Derry  should  be  given 
up  to  the  combined  French  and  Irish  armies. 

On  that  evening  a  sally  took  place,  in  which  the  Derry 
men  exhibited  so  little  of  their  characteristic  courage  and 
enterprise,  that  it  formed  a  matter  of  exulting  reproach 
among  the  strenuous  opposers  of  capitulation,  and  wrought 
on  the  minds  of  many  who  had  before  wavered,  to  renew 
their  sternest  resolves. 

The  Lady  of  M'Alister  took  especial  note  ofthe  cir- 
cumstances, remarking  that  the  Lord  would  no  longer  ac- 
knowledge their  cause,  since  they  ceased  to  confide  in  his 
delivering  power  :  while  Bryan  was  indefatigable  in  urg- 
ing upon  the  citizens  every  argument,  persuasion,  and  re- 
monstrance, that  could  tend  to  fix  their  fainting  hopes 
upon  that  succor,  which,  however  long  delayed,  they  had 
professed  to  anticipate  as  certain.  "  If  now  we  cease  to 
hold  fast  our  confidence,"  said  he,  "who  shall  calculate 
the  extent  of  that  evil  which  our  faithless  abandonment 
must  entail  on  the  Protestant  name  and  cause  \  Enclosed 
in  our  diminutive  town,  we  have  hitherto  found  our  de- 
fence invulnerable,  and  can  fearlessly  shout  to  the  baffled 
hosts  around  us,  that  '  their  rock  is  not  as  our  Rock,  our 
enemies  themselves  being  judges.'  Shall  we  invite  them 
to  hurl  back  upon  us  this  word  of  holy  exultation  in  the 
tones  of  triumphant  mockery  1  Shall  we  yield  in  a  con- 
23* 


266  DERRY. 

flict  where  we  assuredly  know  that  the  Lord  himself  is  on 
our  side,  that  our  cause  is  the  cause  of  his  eternal  truth, 
and  our  foes  the  enemies  of  his  righteous  dominion  I"  B)r 
such  expostulation  hf  succeeded  in  increasing  and  strength- 
ening the  party  who  appeared  to  be  the  forlorn  hope  of 
Protestantism  in  that,  her  strongest  hold ;  and  when,  on 
the  appointi^d  day,  the  commissioners  met  to  deliberate  in 
a  tent  erected  for  that  purpose  outside  the  walls,  those 
ramparts  were  lined  with  many  an  anxious  expectant,  se- 
cretly resolved  never  to  be  found  acquiescing  in  the  sur- 
render against  which  they  had  so  steadily,  so  vauntingly 
protested. 

A  letter  was  received  on  that  very  day  from  the  fleet, 
announcing  that  a  formidable  encampment  had  been  effect- 
ed by  Kirke  on  the  island  of  Inch,  with  a  view  to  some 
speedy  movement  towards  the  relief  of  Derry  ;  and  the 
promptitude  of  Walker  in  circulating  these  glad  tidings 
through  the  town,  sulficiently  indicated  his  real  sentiments 
on  the  question  of  capitulation.  It  became  a  matter  of 
the  greatest  moment  to  protract  the  parley,  in  expectation 
of  the  promised  succor  j  and  therefore  the  commissioners 
on  one  side  were  urgent  in  demanding  for  the  besieged 
some  days'  space  to  consider  of  the  proposed  terms— an 
indulgence  most  strenuously  resisted  on  the  other  side. 
One  day,  or  rather  one  night  alone,  was  given  for  the  fi- 
nal settlement  of  this  momentous  point,  within  the  walls, 
and  the  terms  demanded  by  the  garrison  being  such  as  the 
enemy  would  by  no  means  accede  to,  the  negociation  ab- 
ruptly concluded  ;  a  furious  cannonading  from  their  disap- 
pointed foes  conveying  to  the  defenders  a  speedy  token  of 
the  wrath  excited  by  their  enduring  pertinacity.  This 
was  followed  up  by  new  and  menacing  demonstrations, 
large  bodies  of  the  hostile  army  being  marched  upon  the 
different  points  towards  the  city  ;  but  these  were  met  and 
repulsed  by  the  intrepidity  of  the  besieged,  who  sallied 


DERRY,  267 

forth  to  meet  them,  apparently  as  much  refreshed  by  the 
assurance  of  enduring  yet  longer  their  dreadful  privations, 
as  though  they  had  received  that  supply  for  the  lack  of 
which  they  were  perishing  with  hunger. 

In  the  midst  of  these  awful  scenes,  Magrath  had  never 
failed  of  pursuing  his  delegated  task  among  the  Irish  prison- 
ers, who,  subdued  by  the  sufferings  in  which  they  were 
compelled  to  share,  gave  frequent  encouragement  to  their 
zealous  visitor  to  hope  that  his  labor  among  them  was  not 
in  vain.  In  one  of  the  prison  rooms  was  confined  an  en- 
sign, with  thirteen  privates  of  the  Irish  army,  from  whom 
Magrath  generally  experienced  a  welcome  reception. 
Going  one  evening  to  visit  them,  he  found  the  guards  re- 
duced to  so  exhausted  a  state,  as  to  be  incapable  of  bear- 
ing to  the  poor  captives,  their  wretched  pittance,  which, 
nevertheless,  stood  untasted  by  the  famished  beings 
around. 

"  What's  the  meaning  of  this  ?"  asked  Magrath. 

The  temporary  gaoler,  who  was  lying  on  the  ground, 
raised  himself  a  little,  and  replied,  "  It's  sheer  starvation, 
comrade  :  I  could  not  gain  the  door,  but  reeled  from  side 
to  side  after  a  most  drunken  fashion,  until  I  fell  where  you 
see  me ;  and  not  one  among  us  is  in  a  better  plight.  It 
is  yet  a  good  hour  before  the  regular  relief  of  our  guard  ; 
and  I  fear  the  poor  wretches  within  are  even  in  a  worse 
condition  than  ourselves." 

"  Where  are  the  keys  V 

"  In  my  pocket :  take  them,  and  carry  in  yonder  the 
precious  mess  that  would  turn  the  stomach  of  a  dog :  'tia 
a  bitter  temptation  though,  to  have  it  in  our  sight." 

Magrath  took  the  keys,  as  directed  ;  and  raising  also  the 
earthen  pan,  which  contained  the  garrison  fare  of  meal  fried 
in  tallow — scarcely  himself  equal  to  the  effort  of  bear- 
ing even  such  a  moderate  freight,  he  proceeded  to  the  pri- 
soners' apartment. 


268  DERRY. 

The  spectacle  there  was  touching,  even  far  beyond  what 
he  had  witnessed  without.  The  officer,  a  fair  and  delicate 
youth,  lay  stretched  on  a  low  bedstead,  surrounded  by  se- 
veral of  his  men  ;  one  of  whom  appeared  in  the  act  of  direct- 
ing the  point  of  a  rusty  nail  to  the  veins  in  his  own  bare 
and  emaciated  arm,  while  a  comrade  with  difficulty  re- 
strained him,  by  grasping  his  wrist,  from  prosecuting  his 
strange   purpose.     The  discourse  that  passed  was  in  Irish. 

"  Be  easy,  Terence  :  he  has  said  and  sworn,  that  a  drop 
of  it  should  not  touch  his  lips.  Why  will  you  drain  the 
little  life  that  is  luft  in  you,  to  no  purpose  '." 

"  To  no  purpose,  Cormick  1  Is  he  not  my  foster-bro- 
ther \  Did  not  the  milk  of  my  mother  nourish  his  infan- 
cy, and  should  not  the  blood  of  her  son  flow,  to  bring  back 
the  young  breath  that  is  fleeting  fast  away  1" 

"  No — no  !"  faintly  whispered  the  youth,  with  a  move- 
ment of  the  head  indicating  much  distress. 

"  You  must,  gramachree  :  how  else  could  I  show  my 
face  again  under  the  roof  of  that  cabin  where  your  emile 
was  the  sunshine  of  the  day  1  Now  let  me  go,  Cormick  !" 
and  he  strove  by  a  sudden  wrench  to  release  his  hand  ;  but, 
unequal  to  the  struggle,  both  staggered  together,  until  they 
fell  against  the  grated  window  of  the  prison — a  low  groan 
from  the  officer  showing  at  once  his  consciousness  and 
painful  appreciation  of  his  poor  follower's  deeply-rooted 
attachment. 

"  Let  us  have  no  blood-shedding,"  said  Magrath,  advanc- 
ing. '^'  We  are  not  yet  quite  driven  to  be  cannibals. 
Come,  Terence,  lend  a  hand  to  raise  your  officer's  head  : 
while  I  give  him  a  spoonful  of  what  may  keep  the  life  in 
him,  sorry  food  though  it  be  !" 

The  sustenance  was  eagerly  administered  ;  and  its  effect 
presently  apparent ;  for  the  youth  sat  upright,  and  leaning 
his  head  on  the  naked  arm  of  Terence,  exclaimed,  "  Never 
again  think  of  such  a  thing ;  my  poor  fellow,  do  you  ima- 
gine I  could  feed  upon  your  life  1" 


DERRY.  269 

Magrath  was  deeply  affected ;  his  heart  yearned  over 
the  noble  and  generous  natures  whom  he  knew  to  be  per- 
verted, even  from  the  cradle,  into  instruments  of  persecut- 
ing cruelty.  He  divided  in  silence  the  mess  ;  and  leaving 
them  to  devour  it,  hastened  to  the  place  where  he  knew 
that  some  of  the  council  were  then  sitting  in  anxious  deli- 
beration. To  them  he  related  the  circumstance,  and  heard 
with  delight  an  unanimous  vote  passed  for  the  liberation  of 
the  whole  party  ;  authority  to  carry  it  into  effect  being  at 
once  vested  in  himself. 

With  a  beating  heart,  he  returned  to  the  prison  ;  and 
drawing  forth  his  Irish  bible,  first  communicated  the  wel- 
come tidings  of  their  release,  and  then  abruptly  commenc- 
ed reading  the  sixty-first  chapter  of  Isaiah,  drawing  a 
vivid  picture  of  the  far  mightier  deliverance  wrought  by 
the  anointed  Savior,  for  those  who  are  held  in  Spiritual 
bondage.  He  next  represented  how  beautifully  in  accord- 
ance with  the  divine  example  was  the  act  of  those  hu- 
mane Protestants,  in  conferring  the  unsought  boon  of  free- 
dom, in  that  hour  of  the  prisoners'  extremity  :  and  he 
compelled  them  to  acknowledge,  that,  had  the  case  been  re- 
versed, the  spirit  of  a  merciless  creed,  and  the  too  consist- 
ent practice  to  which  they  had  been  inured,  would  have 
suggested  a  scene  of  slaughter,  or  of  more  lingering  death 
by  famine,  as  the  fitting  dole  to  enemies  so  sternly  and  so 
perseveringly  opposed. 

He  then  conducted  his  countrymen  to  the  Ferry  gate, 
recommending  them  to  the  care  of  the  enemy's  patrol,  who 
in  silent  astonishment  received  his  charge. 

It  was  by  such  deeds  as  this — for  such  a  liberation 
really  took  place  in  Derry — that  the  Protestants  contin- 
ually weakened  the  hands  of  their  opponents.  To  so  great 
a  degree  was  the  dissatisfaction  of  the  Irish  army  now  vi- 
sible, that  from  the  inaccurate  pointing  of  their  guns  and 
mortars,  scarcely  a  shot  took  effect  in  the  besieged   town* 


*270  DERRY. 

where  previously  such  fearful  execution  had  been  done  by 
those  formidable  engines.  This  was  continually  remarked 
by  the  garrison  :  and  while  some  hesitated  not  to  aver  that 
balls  and  bombs  were  miiaculously  turned  out  of  their  course, 
others,  more  sober-minded,  recognized  a  no  less  mighty  dis- 
play of  divine  power  in  thus  softening  the  implacability  of 
foes  long  distinguished  by  their  exterminating  rage. 

Still,  whatever  might  be  the  subdued  feelings  of  the  na- 
tive Irish  towards  their  persecuted  countrymen,  no  visitings 
of  compunction  were  discernible  in  the  leaders  of  that 
army.  De  Rosen  prosecuted,  to  the  uttermost  of  his  pow- 
er, the  w^ork  of  destruction  ;  and  little  it  availed  the  suf- 
ferers that  their  dwellings  were  less  frequently  shattered  by 
missiles  from  without,  while  pestilence  walked  their 
streets,  and  famine  reigned  under  every  roof.  In  the  fre- 
quent sallies,  too,  their  loss  was  considerable  ;  and  every 
family  participated  in  the  affliction  experienced,  when,  from 
one  of  those  sorties,  the  gallant  Murray  was  brought  in,  so 
severely  wounded  by  a  shot  which  passed  through  both  his 
thighs,  that,  for  a  time,  his  life  was  despaired  of  j  and  his 
valuable  services  were,  at  the  best,  to  be  lost  to  the  distress- 
ed inhabitants  in  their  greatest  need. 

It  was  now  that  the  household  of  M'Alister  found  the 
trial  of  their  faith  most  precious.  While  confidence  was 
strong,  and  hope  was  buoyant,  many  had  rejected  their 
solemn  counsels,  making  liglit  of  their  faithfid  reproofs  ;  but 
the  season  of  extreme  destitution  brought  those  scorners  to 
their  door,  in  humble  quest  of  the  teaching  that  was  often 
blessed  to  the  quickening  of  souls,  while  the  poor  tenement 
of  clay  crumbled  beneath  the  pressure  of  overwhelming  ca- 
lamities. Often  when,  on  the  point  of  famishing,  the 
M'Alisters  had  resigned  themselves  to  what  appeared  in- 
evitable death,  the  grateful  love  of  those  whose  starving 
souls  they  had  led  to  feast  upon  the  bread  of  life,  brought 
the  unlooked-for  morsel  to  their  colorless  lips,  and  wep  t 


DERRY.  271 

with  joy  in  beholding  its  revivifying  effect.  "You  have 
sown  unto  us  spiritual  things  :  is  it  a  great  matter  ifyou  reap 
our  carnal  things  V  was  the  affectionate  plea  to  induce  ac- 
ceptance of  what  the  donors  could  so  ill  afford  to  lose  :  and 
every  new  accession  of  strength,  thus  mercifully  given,  was 
ireely  expendedin  fresh  labors  of  faithful  love,  oi  devoted  zeal 
in  their  Master's  cause.  Magrath  was  as  a  ministering  spirit 
among  them:  how  the  cravings  of  his  own  hunger  were 
appeased,  no  one  could  tell ;  for  seldom  was  he  seen  to 
taste  of  food — all  that  his  diligent  search  could  obtain, 
was  for  those  who  lived  in  the  warm  recesses  of  his  grate- 
ful heart.  When  urged  to  partake  of  their  pittance,  he 
would  smilingly  express  his  thankfulness  to  the  watchful 
care  of  Father  Peters,  in^  early  habituating  him  to  the  ex- 
ercise of  fasting ;  adding,  that  one  who  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  keep  black  Lent  for  forty  days,  would  not  flinch 
from  a  few  weeks  of  self-denial.  The  natural  hilarity  of 
his  character  shone  out  in  an  extraordinary  degree,  during 
the  darkest  seasons  of  gloom  and  despondency  ;  but  there 
was  one  place  where  Magrath's  tone  always  softened  into 
tenderness,  and  where  his  movements  were  cautious  as 
those  of  a  careful  mother  by  the  cradle  of  her  slumbering 
babe  :  this  was  the  chamber  of  Murray,  whither  he  bore 
his  daily  report  of  temporal  warfare  and  of  spiritual  peace. 

"  Please  your  honor,"  said  he,  one  day,  on  seeing  the 
Colonel  somewhat  revived,  "  is  it  now  that  you'll  hear 
what  Fve  been  about  this  morning  1" 

"  Do,  my  good  fellow,  tell  me." 

"  Why  then.  Sir,  it's  me  that  has  introduced  a  regular 
spy  into  the  city." 

"  I  can't  believe  that  of  you,  my  lad." 

"  It's  true.  Sir,  notwithstanding.  I  made  out  that  an 
old  acquaintance  of  mine  was  on  the  sharps  to  discover 
what  store  of  meal  we  had  got  inside :  so  I  made  my  plan 
known  to  the  Governor,  and  brought  him  privately  in,  to 


272  DERRY. 

let  his  two  eyes  bear  witness  to  the  dozen  good  barrels  of 
meal  that  were  stowed  away  in  one  cellar." 

"  You  could  not  do  that,  Magrath  :  for  there  are  not  so 
many  left  in  the  garrison,  I  ft^ar." 

"  May  be  not,  your  honor ;  but  empty  barrels  there 
are,  galore.  'Twas  no  difficult  matter  to  turn  a  dozen 
of  these  upside  down ;  and  when  the  bottoms  were 
well  covered  with  good  meal,  they  must  have  been  sharp 
eyes  that  could  find  out  it  wasn't  the  top." 

"And  did  you  really  play  off  such  a  trick  1"  asked 
Murray,  laughing. 

"  I  did,  your  honor  ;  and  sent  him  away  to  report  it  in 
the  camp." 

Murray  greatly  enjoyed  the  stratagem,  which  was  one 
among  the  many  that  were  resorted  to,  in  order  to  dis- 
hearten the  enemy  ;  and  Magrath  very  adroitly  turned  the 
discourse  to  the  affecting  tale  of  the  Zidonian  widow, 
whose  barrel  failed  not,  while  the  prophet  of  the  Lord  found 
shelter  beneath  her  roof.  More  eloquently  he  could  have 
told  it  in  the  loved  language  of  his  race  ;  but  the  gospel  he 
was  resolved  to  preach,  however  imperfectly ;  and  now, 
beside  the  pillow  of  that  wounded  warrior,  zealously  and 
sweetly  he  proclaimed  once  more  the  "  story  of  peace." 


CHAPTER  XV 


Shortly  after  the  renewal  of  hostilities,  the  fleet — that 
mocking  vision  of  deceitful  hope  to  the  poor  suffering  citi- 
zens— had  anchored  in  the  Lough,  near  Culmore.  The 
boom  thrown  across,  between  that  fort  and  Derry,  barred 
its  nearer  approach :  but  the  besieged  were  hourly  flatter- 
ing themselves  that  the  English  spirit  of  the  commander 
would  lead  him  to  attempt,  at  least,  some  enterprise  for 
their  relief  With  straining  eyes,  and  agonized  hearts, 
they  beheld  once  more  these  inconstant  ships,  spreading 
their  sails,  and  saw  them  again  recede  into  hopeless  dis- 
tance. It  is  difiicult  to  devise  an  excuse  for  such  selfish, 
such  unseemly  forbearance  on  the  part  of  Kirke  ;  neither 
will  the  constitutional  phlegm  of  William  of  Nassau  justif}', 
in  the  eyes  of  Protestant  inquirers,  his  indifference  to  the 
calamities  of  those  attached  subjects,  Avhose  heroism,  in  the 
defence  of  their  little  fortress,  materially  contributed  to 
the  final  success  of  his  arms,  at  this  period,  against  the  dis- 
affected Scottish  clans.  Had  Derry  been  reduced,  the 
Irish  and  French  army  encamped  before  its  walls  might 
have  speedily  passed  over  from  the  swelling  Lough,  to 
pour  a  formidable  reinforcement  upon  the  Scottish  coast, 
for  the  maintenance  of  James  Stuart's  cause.  But  they 
could  not  overleap  that  barrier ;  and  while  De  Rosen 
thundered  forth  his  ineffectual  rage  against  its  stubborn 
wall,  the  battle  of  Killicrankie  decided  the  Northern  cam- 
24 


274  TERKY. 

paign,  sealing  the  doom  of  popish  usurpation  in  the  hour 
of  bootless  victory. 

But  desperate  beyond  description  was  the  case  of  those 
unvanquished  defenders  of  Derry  :  for  a  time,  as  we  have 
seen,  the  efforts  of  the  enemy  seemed  to  lose  much  of  their 
wonted  energy  ;  and  very  little  execution  was  done  by 
tlieir  guns.  This  comparative  respite  did  not  long  con- 
tinue ;  a  new  spirit  appeared  to  be  infused  into  them,  and 
very  severe  was  the  injury  inflicted,  both  upon  the  out- 
works and  in  the  town.  The  enemy's  cattle,  grazing 
within  sight  of  the  walls,  induced  the  famished  garrison  to 
make  repeated  sallies  in  the  hope  of  capturing  them :  and 
many  lives  were  lost  in  such  fruitless  attempts :  yet  the 
tones  of  expectation  sounded  as  boldly  confident,  the  words 
of  encouragement  were  as  cheerily  exchanged,  as  though 
the  floating  rumors  of  promised  relief  had  been  its  unques- 
tionable harbingers. 

The  voice  of  despondency,  and  even  of  open  disaffec- 
tion, was  indeed  sometimes  to  be  heard  ;  but  to  silence 
such  sounds  appeared  to  be  the  especial  business  of  all 
who  distinguished  them.  On  one  occasion,  as  Bryan  ap- 
proached a  group  near  the  market-house,  he  recognized 
the  querulous  tones  of  Alderman  Crowe,  who  had  long 
ceased  to  consider  even  Governor  Walker  a  sufficient  staff 
whereon  to  lean  in  the  grievous  emergency  to  which  they 
were  reduced.  "  It  is  useless  to  talk  of  it,"  said  the  Al- 
derman ;  "  so  long  as  meat  remained  in  the  shambles, 
though  it  were  but  a  barrel  of  salted  hides,  we  might  anti- 
cipate a  further  struggle  against  these  desperate  odds  :  but 
after  what  I  have  this  day  seen  and  heard,  it  does  sound 
like  a  jest  to  talk  of  holding  out  any  longer." 

"  Many  a  true  word,  however,  is  spoken  in  jest,"  re- 
marked a  bystander :  "  and  the  joke  of  our  holding  out 
will  come  in  among  them." 

"So  you  say,"  responded  the  Alderman,  "but  look 
round  you.     Can  we  eat  the  stones  out  of  the  walls  1" 


DERRY.  275 

"No,  no,"  observed  Bryan,  "they  do  us  better  service 
where  they  are.  The  walls,  boys,  the  walls  of  Derry  are 
a  marvellously  tough  morsel,  as  the  gentlemen  yonder  can 
vouch." 

A  hearty  laugh  yielded  the  general  assent  to  this  obser- 
vation. 

"  There  now,  Mr.  M'Alister,"  said  Crowe,  "  you  are 
well  known  to  be  among  the  most  obstinately  sanguine  of 
our  infatuated  citizens  :  yet  you  have  suffered  enough  to 
damp  the  enthusiasm  of  any  person.  Yesterday  it  was 
currently  reported  that  your  venerable  grandmother  had 
died  in  consequence  of  feeding  upon  one  of  the  nauseous 
rats  that  now  form  our  dainty  provision.'' 

"  It  must  have  been  the  tail,"  observed  another,  laugh- 
ing, "  for  they  say  that's  poisonous.  However,  I  saw  the 
good  lady  to-day,  as  active  as  ever  among  the  sick  ;  and  I 
shall  see  her,  ere  long,  carving  plump  slices  of  beef  and 
mutton  to  strengthen  her  patients." 

"  Or  if  not,',  said  Bryan,  "  we'll  never  stand  by  to  see 
the  isle  of  our  birth  carved  out  among  foreigners,  or  cut 
into  fat  slices  of  abbey  lands,  to  nourish  the  priests  and 
friars  of  Rome.  Come,  come,  my  good  friend  Crowe,"  he 
added,  seeing  another  lamentation  ready  to  break  forth, 
"  what  change  has  passed  upon  our  glorious  cause,  since 
you  so  loudly  exhorted  us  to  die  in  it,  that  your  tone  is 
become  so  discouraging  1" 

"The  cause  is  not  changed, M'Alister j  but" 

"  Then  it  is  still  the  cause  of  truth,  and  the  God  of 
truth  will  uphold  it.  Is  his  arm  shortened,  or  is  there 
any  thing  too  hard  for  him  to  achieve  1" 

"  Certainly  not ;  but" 

"  No  more  butting  against  our  faith,  my  dear  Alder- 
man ;  or,  stay,  if  we  must  have  a  but,  I'll  find  you  one 
presently  : — '  For  a  small  moment  have  I  forsaken  thee, 
BUT   with   great  mercies  will   I  gather   thee' — 'for   the 


276  DERRY. 

mountains  shall  depart,  and  the  hills  be  removed,  but  my 
kindness  shall  not  depart  from  thee,  neither  shall  the  cov- 
enant of  my  peace  be  removed,  saith  the  Lord,  that  hath 
mercy  on  thee.' " 

This  quotation  was  received  with  delight ;  and  the  Al- 
derman ceased  to  oppose  the  strong  current  of  determined 
hope.  He  took  Bryan's  arm,  and  leading  him  a  little 
apart,  expressed  his  regret  for  having  formerly  wronged  a 
character  which  he  felt  to  be  far  superior  to  his  own  ; 
adding,  that  he  had  still  a  small  store  of  good  meal,  and 
«ome  few  salted  provisions,  which  he  must  insist  on  shar- 
ing with  the  Lady  ofM'Alister.  Magrath  conveyed  this 
welcome  supply,  and  the  more  welcome  information  that 
the  poor  old  man  had  shown  him,  with  tears,  the  passage 
quoted  by  Bryan  ;  observing  that  the  chapter  had  been 
the  best  cordial  he  had  got  for  many  a  day. 

"  Let  patience  have  her  perfect  work,"  said  the  Lady  : 
"  We  shall  know-  by  and  by  that  there  was  a  need-be  for 
every  shot  fired  against  our  fortress." 

"  I  doubt  it  not,"  remarked  Morrison.  "  But  it  is  for 
posterity  to  gather  in  the  plenteous  harvest,  whatever  in- 
dividual gleanings  the  field  may  offer  to  us." 

"  Ay,  if  our  posterity  follow  up  the  work  of  those  who 
now  sow  in  tears,  they  shall  surely  reap  in  joy:  but 
should  they  suffer  themselves  to  be  lulled  into  thoughtless 
security,  while  the  enemy  sows  his  tares,  they  will  be 
compelled  to  enter  anew  upon  this  conflict,  and  against 
sorer  odds  than  what  we  now  encounter." 

"  I  often  fear  it,"  said  Ross,  "  In  that  false  liberality 
which  shrinks  from  the  imputation  of  bigotry  and  intole- 
rance, the  lesson  now  written  in  our  people's  blood  will 
perhaps  be  forgotten,  or  laid  aside  with  disgust  j  until, 
bursting  forth  with  recruited  strength,  the  enemy  of  all 
righteousness  shall  succeed  in  driving  Protestantism  into 
its   ancient  fastnesses ;  and  Derry  will  again  be  remem- 


DERRY.  277 

bered,  amid  bitter  regrets  that  ever  its  instructive  records 
were  buried  in  oblivion." 

"  And  if  it  be  so,"  exclaimed  Bryan,  "  let  the  Protest- 
ants of  Ireland  recollect  in  whose  name  we  strengthened 
ourselves,  remembering  that  he  abideth  always  the  same. 
If  the  Lord  deliver  us,  and  establish  the  true  faith  in  this 
land,  a  similar  crisis  can  scarcely  occur,  except  through 
the  most  culpable  neglect  of  men's  souls ;  the  most  infat- 
uated connivance  at  the  moral,  the  spiritual,  and  political 
plague  of  popery.  In  such  case,  let  them  take  patiently 
the  chastisement,  searching  and  trying  their  ways,  and 
turning  anew  to  the  Lord,  with  purpose  of  heart  to  work 
in  reality  that  deliverance  which  cometh  not  by  might 
nor  by  power,  but  by  his  Spirit  alone." 

But  deliverance,  though  often  on  the  lips  of  the  suffer- 
ers, was  a  word  that  mocked  them.  Language  is  inade- 
quate to  describe  the  wretchedness  to  which  they  were 
reduced,  towards  the  end  of  this  month.  Repeated  sug- 
gestions were  made  of  surrendering  the  town  j  but  an 
overpowering  majority  of  resolute  voices  never  failed  to 
drown  the  timid  accents  of  despair.  A  formidable  sally 
was  planned  and  executed,  of  which  the  object  was,  as 
usual,  to  capture  a  few  of  the  enemy's  cattle  :  in  this  they 
failed,  but  took  some  inconsiderable  spoil  of  oaten  bread, 
and  fragments  of  meat,  on  which  the  captors  regaled  them- 
selves, and  as  many  as  they  could  admit  to  share  it 

the  hungry  bystanders  felicitating  themselves  that  it  was 
at  once  a  sample  and  an  earnest  of  what  they  too  should 
enjoy  on  the  arrival  of  the  promised  succors.  So  debili- 
tated were  the  frames  of  the  men  who  made  the  sortie, 
that  they  reeled  under  the  shock  occasioned  by  discharg- 
ing their  own  muskets,  and  often  fell  in  the  effort  to  strike 
a  blow  ;  yet  such  was  the  vigor  of  this  unlooked-for  as- 
sault, that  three  hundred  of  the  besiegers  were  slain,  while 
24* 


278  DERBY. 

the  loss  of  the  assailants  amounted  but  to  one  officer  and 
two  private  men.* 

"  I  love  not,"  said  the  Lady  of  M'Alister,  "  to  be  told 
of  slaughtered  hundreds;  my  thought  pursues  those  souls 
into  the  dreadful  world  of  eternal  realities,  and  shrinks 
from  contemplating  their  doom." 

"  The  closing  of  our  gates,"  said  Bryan,  "  was  an  act 
purely  defensive  ;  and  some  who  were  most  forward  in  ac- 
complishing it  would  have  been  the  last  to  engage  in  ag- 
gressive warfare.  These,  however,  and  others  like-minded 
with  them,  form  but  a  small,  a  very  small  portion  of  the 
inhabitants,  and  possess  little  influence  in  the  council. 
Worldly  policy,  trusting  in  the  arm  of  flesh,  is  eager  to 
make  a  proud  display  of  physical  strength,  resolved  that 
not  to  God,  but  to  man,  shall  be  ascribed  the  glory  of 
whatsoever  shall  be  achieved." 

''  It  may  appear  a  strange  assertion,"  observed  Morri- 
son, "but  I  have  always  thought  that  the  numerical 
strength  of  Protestantism  among  us  constitutes  its  actual 
w'eakness.  Our  Protestantism  is  a  sacred  ark,  upon  which 
no  unhallowed  touch  sliould  come:  it  is  pure  Christianity, 
distinguished  alike  from  the  systems  of  false  religion,  and 
from  the  worldliness  which  regards  all  religion  as  a  party 
question— a  symbol  of  adherence  to  this  or  that  political 
cause.  We  have  among  us  a  little  band  of  praying  and 
believing  brethren,  for  whose  sakes  the  Lord  defends  our 
citadel :  but  there  is  also  much  to  provoke  his  wrathful  in- 
dignation, to  keep  the  scourge  uplifted  still,  and  to  make 
us  almost  tremble  for  the  tinal  result." 

■  Bryan  remarked,  "  The  frequent  desecration  of  the  Sab- 
bath day  stands  prominently  forward  in  that  dark  cata- 
logue  of  provocations." 

»  This  disparity  appears  scarcely  credible,  considering  the  stale 
lo  which  the  besieged  were  reduced  :  but  it  is  autlicnticatcd  bj 
Graham. — Sec  History  of  tlie  Siege  of  Deny,  page  248. 


DERRY.  279 

"  Assuredly,"  answered  the  Lady ;  "  and  my  child  will 
remember  that,  as  the  first  ball  fired  into  our  fortress  be- 
spoke the  enemy's  scorn  of  that  hallowed  institution,  so, 
alas  !  did  the  first  sally  of  our  unthinking  garrison  bring  us 
under  the  like  condemnation,  in  the  sight  of  him  who  is 
jealous  over  his  Sabbaths." 

"  I  never  could  relish  that  part  of  the  business,"  said 
Ross,  "  as  far  as  the  Governor  was  concerned.  To  my 
thoughtle.'s  and  ignorant  mind  it  appeared  suitable  enough 
for  military  men  to  pursue  their  work  on  that,  as  on  any 
other  day ;  but  it  struck  me  as  incongruous,  almost  revolt- 
ing, to  see  a  minister  of  religion  descend  from  his  pulpit 
to  gird  on  a  sword,  and  to  lead  his  flock  into  mortal  com- 
bat, merely  from  choice  ;  not  from  any  necessity,  real  or 
imagined." 

"  No  real  necessity  ever  did,  ever  can  exist,  for  casting 
God's  law  behind  us,"  said  the  Lady  of  M'Alister.  "  Woe 
to  the  people  whose  rulers  lead  the  way  in  provoking  to 
jealousy  the  Lord  of  Hosts !  Success  may,  for  a  little, 
appear  to  smile  upon  their  council  table  ;  conquest  may 
proudly  sit  upon  the  banners  of  their  warlike  array  ;  but 
no  blessing  is  there  :  no  permanent  advantage  shall  that  na- 
tion reap.  In  tribulation  and  anguish  they  shall  be  com- 
pelled to  own,  that  it  is  an  evil  and  a  bitter  thing  to  for- 
sake the  Lord  their  God." 

"  That  experience  is  deeply  written  upon  all  our  hearts," 
eaid  Morrison  with  a  heavy  sigh.  "  My  slaughtered  wife, 
my  helpless,  wandering  children,  seem  to  speak  a  per- 
petual reproach  to  my  soul  for  having  compromised  the 
holy  principle  of  Christian  separation,  leaguing  with  world- 
ly men,  to  promote,  by  worldly  means,  the  cause  which 
rests  upon  a  purer  basis  than  to  brook  such  alloying  mix- 
ture. Collectively,  we  suffer  for  the  truth's  sake  ;  but  in- 
dividually, each  can  doubtless  point  to  some  bygone  com- 
pliance, some  treacherous  departure  from  the  acknowledg- 


280 


DERRY. 


ed  standard  of  his  faith,  and  say,  '  My  sin  has  found  me 
out.'  " 

At  this  moment  the  half-opened  door  was  pushed  farther 
back,  and  a  most  pitiable  object  presented  herself.  A 
woman,  whose  husband  and  two  sons  had  already  fallen 
victims  to  disease  and  famine,  reeled  forward :  clinging  to 
her  soiled  and  tattered  garments,  were  three  children, 
whose  cries  appeared  to  have  overcome  her  reason  j  for 
«he  stared  around  with  looks  of  wild  distraction,  repeated- 
ly endeavoring  to  release  herself  from  their  grasp. 

"  Naughty  mother!  naughty  mother  !"  screamed  one  of 
the  children,  striking  at  her  with  his  little  fist,  in  furioui 
passion. 

"  Motlier's  not  naughty,"  cried  another,  beating  down 
the  uplifted  hand,  "poor  mother  couldn't  help  it." 

This  uiterference  was  vehemently  resented  by  the  first 
•peaker,  who  seemed  scarcely  four  years  old  :  he  dealt  a 
blow  at  his  sister,  and  amid  their  redoubled  cries  of  rage 
and  pain,  the  battle  continued,  each  maintaining  its  tena- 
cious hold  on  the  agonized  parent. 

The  infant  combatants  were  presently  separated  by 
Bryan  and  his  friends,  who  vainly  strove  to  pacify  them. 
Their  little  bosoms  seemed  bursting  with  resentment  and 
despair,  and  it  was  long  before  an  answer  could  be  obtain- 
ed to  the  mild  inquiries  of  their  captors  :  at  last  the  girl, 
who  had  been  placed  by  Morrison  on  his  knee,  said,  "Mo- 
ther had  a  loaf,  a  beautiful  loaf,  that  a  kind  gentleman 
gave :  she  dropped  it ;  and  a  big  boy  snatched  it  up,  and 
ran  away." 

"  Naughty  mother  wouldn't  catch  the  boy,"  roared  her 
brother :  the  third  child  was  too  young  to  join  in  the  ex- 
planation. 

The  poor  woman,  who  had  sunk  into  a  chair,  clasped 
her  withered  hands,  exclaiming,  "When  will  mercy 
come  1" 


DERRY.  281 

"  It  will  come,"  said  the  Lady,  "  when  we  cast  our- 
selves on  it  in  utter  self-despair."  Then  looking  around 
upon  the  miserable  objects  that  encompassed  her,  she  ut- 
tered, with  a  burst  of  anguish,  "  Hath  the  Lord  forgotten 
to  be  gracious  \  hath  he  shut  up  his  loving  kindness  in 
displeasure  V' 

"  Never  ask  such  a  question,  my  Lady,"  said  Magrath, 
who  had  entered  :  "  it's  the  first  doubtful  word  that  ever 
came  out  of  your  mouth.  Forgotten  !  No,  no :  God 
hasn't  forgotten  any  thing  but  our  sins  :  and  doesn't  he 
say  that  he  will  remember  them  no  more  1"  He  then 
drew  from  beneath  his  coat  a  wooden  bowl,  adding, 
"  here's  a  new  dish  just  invented,  that's  in  great  request 
among  us ;  enough  to  mess  ye  all."  He  glanced  at  the 
squalid  children  and  their  stupified  mother,  adding,  as  he 
put  down  the  provisions,  with  a  look  of  deep  feeling, 
"  When  God  sends  mouths,  he  will  send  meat." 

This  supply  proved  to  be  a  composition  of  starch  and 
tallow,  fried  together  ;  a  large  quantity  of  the  former  arti- 
cle having  been  found  in  a  store,  a  respectable  merchant, 
Mr.  James  Cunningham,  was  induced  to  try  whether  it 
might  not  be  made  available  in  the  extremity  of  famine. 
He  found  it  not  only  eatable,  but  medicinal  ;  and  gladly 
published  the  important  discovery,  which  became  a  means 
of  saving  many  valuable  lives.  With  the  greediness  of 
young  wolves  did  those  poor  babes  devour  the  portion  joy- 
iiilly  raised  to  their  livid  lips  ;  and  that  sight,  melting  the 
mother  into  tears,  relieved  her  brain  from  its  intolerable 
oppression.  She  also  ate,  and  invoking  blessings  on  that 
hospitable  roof,  departed  with  her  now  laughing  little  ones. 

In  almost  every  house  some  spectacle  of  equal  suffering 
might  be  witnessed  ;  but  while  the  strongest  frame  lay 
fainting,  and  the  most  sanguine  voice  of  hope  died  into  the 
silence  of  despair,  even  a  whisper  breathing  the  hated  word 
suKRENDER,   rekindled  in  each  sunken  eye  the  fire  of  in- 


282  DERRY. 

dignatit  reproof,  and  '*  Never  !  never!"  was  the  univer- 
sal response.  The  ministers  of  religion,  who  had  inde- 
fatigably  fanned  the  steady  blaze  of  self-devoting  zeal,  re- 
doubled their  efforts  as  the  time  became  more  awfully  cri- 
tical. Their  exhortations  varied,  indeed,  according  as  the 
love  of  God  or  the  pride  of  man,  ruled  in  the  teacher's 
heart  :  but  their  object  was  the  same  ;  and  endurance 
unto  death  the  unvarying  topic  of  their  animated  admoni- 
tions. On  the  twenty-seventh  day  of  July,  there  was  a 
general  darkening  of  countenance,  an  interchange  of  looks 
among  those  who  had  charge  ov^r  the  public  stores,  that 
bespoke  an  approaching  failure  of  the  last  poor  pittance  : 
and  by  the  Governor's  order,  an  urgent  invitation  was  cir- 
culated through  the  town,  for  all  to  assemble  on  the  mor- 
row at  the  cathedral,  and  with  united  supplication  to  make 
known  their  request  to  God. 

The  Lady  of  M'Alister,  reclined  in  lier  antique  chair, 
with  folded  hands  and  closed  eyes,  was  placidly  meditating 
on  the  inscrutable  ways  of  Him  whose  path  is  in  the  deep 
waters.  She  sensibly  felt  the  loosening  of  those  cords 
which  held  her  earthly  tabernacle  together,  and  secretly 
resolved  to  waste  as  little  of  the  city's  scanty  provisions 
upon  it,  as  the  vigilance  of  her  attached  household  circle 
would  allow.  More  than  once  she  had  baffled  the  watch- 
ful anxiety  of  even  Bryan  ;  but  Magrath  it  was  still  harder 
to  elude,  with  such  jealous  care  did  he  note  her  reception 
of  each  providential  supply.  Neither  could  her  dignity 
overawe  him  ;  for  when,  with  a  semblance  of  displeasure, 
ihe  had  demanded  to  be  left  alone  over  her  pittance,  the 
poor  fellow  replied,  with  glistening  eyes,  "  And  I'll  go, 
my  Lady,  as  soon  as  I  have  seen  the  morsel  pass  your  lips. 
Sure  and  what  is  it  keeps  the  life  in  poor  old  Shane,  but 
the  hope  of  looking  you  in  the  face  again  1" 

"  Shane  has  a  better  hope,  ]\Iagrath,"  she  answered  ; 
but  touched  by  his  evident  distress,  partook  of  what  his 


DERRY.  283 

affectionate  zeal  had  provided.  On  this  evening  no  in- 
ducement presented  itself,  for  food  there  v/as  none  ;  and 
Bryan  returned  from  an  unsuccessful  search,  with  looks  of 
deeper  dejection  than  he  had  ever  worn,  and  seating  him- 
self opposite,  silently  gazed  on  the  venerable  ruin  before 
him. 

It  was  then  that  the  summons  reached  them,  to  join  the 
morrow's  solemnity  ;  and  the  Lady,  aroused  by  the  wel- 
come sound,  said,  "  It  is  well ;  be  the  issue  life  or  death, 
in  God's  temple  let  us  find  it." 

The  silence  of  the  grave  reigned  in  Derry  throughout 
that  solemn  night,  save  only  one  unceasing  sound — the 
cries  of  hungry  children,  unsupported  by  the  high  resolve 
which  nerved  the  adult  population.  Morning  arrived  ; 
and  at  an  early  honr,  the  ghastly  apparitions  of  that  famish- 
ed town  were  seen  approaching  from  every  quarter  to  the 
house  of  prayer.  In  little  more  than  the  space  of  a  fort- 
night, the  garrison  had  lost  upwards  of  a  thousand  men  : 
the  mortality  among  other  classes  having  been  proportion- 
ate. No  marvel  that  death,  become  so  familiar  to  their 
daily  and  hourly  view,  seemed  stripped  of  half  its  terrors  ; 
no  marvel  that  the  burying  ground,  crowded  as  it  was  with 
objects  nearest  and  dearest  to  their  hearts,  presented  to 
many  an  inviting  couch  of  repose.  They  entered  the 
cathedral,  and.  prostrate  in  supplication,  sought  help  of 
Him  who  alone  is  mighty  to  save. 

Walker  preached  ;  in  a  strain  of  sublime  eloquence,  he 
set  before  his  drooping  hearers  the  encouragements  of  holy 
writ,  showing  the  marvellous  interpositions  by  which  the 
Lord  had  of  old  maintained  the  right  and  the  cause  of  his 
oppressed  people.  He  exhorted  them  to  trust,  and  not  to 
be  afraid  5  he  recounted  the  extraordinary  instances  of  a 
peculiar  providence  which  had  been  remarked  during  the 
siege  ;  and  with  a  confidence  that  infused  new  life  into 
many  a  fainting  heart,  he  predicted  a  speedy  realization  of 


284  DEilRY. 

their  most  sanguine  hopes.  He  exhorted,  he  prayed  for, 
he  blessed  them  with  paternal  tenderness  ;  and  then,  de- 
scending from  the  pulpit,  he  mingled  with  the  departing 
congregation,  as  slowly  they  emerged  from  the  sacred 
edifice. 

In  the  burying-ground  a  pause  was  made,  as  by  general 
consent ;  each  individual  seeming  disposed  to  take  one  more 
survey  of  the  beloved  temple  in  which  they  had  been 
wont  to  meet  their  God  ;  and  of  the  lowly  resting-places 
where  so  many  of  thiMr  kindred  reclined — iar  removed 
from  the  troubling  of  the  wicked.      Leaning  upon  tombs 
and  gravestones,  or  upon  each  other,  for  a  momentary  sup- 
port, they  gazed  in  solemn  silence  on  those  objects  long 
familiarized,  but,  by  every  human  probability,  soon  to  be 
•shut  out  for  ever  from   their  view.      Then  might  be  seen 
the  dilated  eye,  deep  sunk,  indeed,  within  its  socket,  but 
still  beaming  forth  the  high  resolve  of  unsubdued  devotion 
to  their  righteous  cause  ;  and  fleshless  lips,  livid   as  those 
of  a  corpse,  compressed  as  though  they  would  forcibly  im- 
prison the  straggling  sigh  of  famishing  distress.       Walker, 
still  robed  as  in  the  pulpit,  paced  slowly  among  the  scat- 
tered groups,  his  gaunt  frame  and  hollow  cheek  present- 
ing a  personification  of  sufiering,  as  acute  as  had  been 
undergone  by  any  one.     Arrived  at  an  eminence,  formed 
by  the  recent  interment  of  several  bodies  beneath  one 
mound,  he  looked  for  a   moment  at  the  crimson  flag  whose 
folds  fell  languidly  over   the  battlements  of  the  church 
tower,  then  cast  his  eye  around  upon  the  patient  sufferers, 
who  met  it  with  something  approacliing  to  a  smile,  so  full 
of  melancholy  endurance,  that  his  tears  well  nigh  over- 
flowed, while  once  more  addressing   them  in  the  tones  of 
soothing  encouragement.      "  Nay,  doubt  not,  my  faithful, 
my  true-hearted  fellow  Protestants  ;  the  Lord  has  heard — 
the  Lord  will  assuredly  answer — the  united  appeal  of  his 
poor  perishing  creatures.     Doubt  not,  for  when  did  he  re- 


DERRY.  285 

ject  the  prayer  of  faith  "?  -  when  did," A  sound,  sud- 
den and  strange,  and  wildly  joyfiil,  came  from  the  direc- 
tion of  the  water-side  ;  it  produced  a  suigular  effect  upon 
the  hearers,  and  occasioned  even  in  Walker,  a  sensation  of 
such  choking  emotion  as  cut  short  his   address.      That 

sound dare  they  believe  it  ?  had  they  heard  it  aright  1 

Yes,  again  it  was  repeated,  and  again  the  shout  was  rais- 
ed ;  and  again  in  articulate  words  was  the  transporting  in- 
telligence borne  to  their  ears,  "  The  fleet,  the  fleet  ap- 
proaches ! — The  ships  are  in  the  Lough  !" 

It  was  as  in  a  death-struggle  that  the  greater  number 
of  those  emaciated  beings  rushed  to  the  walls.  Husbands 
carried  their  dying  wives,  mothers  their  expiring  children, 
and  by  efforts  that  seemed  supernatural,  they  gained  the 
height,  to  witness  what  to  their  eyes  appeared  a  celestial 
vision — the  bi'oad  sails  of  three  stately  vessels,  filled  by  a 
favouring  gale,  whitening  upon  the  curling  waters,  and 
steadily  approaching,  with  the  undoubted  purpose  of 
anchoring  beneath  the  walls.  In  the  besiegers'  camp  all 
was  bustle  :  a  desperate  resistance  would  no  doubt  be 
made  ;  arfd  the  boom  that  stretched  across  the  Lough  me- 
naced destruction  to  the  coming  deliverers.  The  fort  of 
Culmore  was  manned,  and  its  batteries  opened  with  thun- 
dering fury  upon  the  advancing  ships  ;  while  volleys  of 
musquetry  from  either  bank,  poured  upon  their  sides. 
The  fire  was  returned,  and  evidently  with  considerable 
execution,  upon  the  wretched  instruments  of  Romish  ag- 
gression ;  while,  comparatively  unharmed,  the  gallant 
vessels  made  good  their  passage  past  the  fort. 

"  The  boom  !  the  boom  !"  was  breathed  in  gasps,  and 
whispers  of  unutterable  agony,  by  the  terribly  interested 
spectators  on  the  walls.  "  Will  they  venture  to  pass  1 — 
Can  they  break  it  1 — Oh  now,  now,  or  never  ! — God 
give  them  resolution  ! — Still  they  approach  V  Such  ex- 
clamations burst  from  the  parching  lips  that  had  so  recent- 
25 


286  DERRY. 

ly  moved  in  united  prayer ;  while  a  party  of  the  towns- 
men mounted  the  cathedral,  firing  as  a  knell  their  minute 
guns  of  distress,  and  combining  the  efforts  of  their  trembling 
arms  to  wave  the  crimson  flag,  in  mute,  yet  touching  ap- 
peal to  the  hearts  of  their  compassionate  deliverers. 

The  Mountjoy  had  taken  the  lead  ;    her  captain  was  a 
native  of  Derry,  and  within  its  walls  were  his  wife,  his 
children,  and  his  friends.     The  boom  was  right  before  her, 
and  she  swerved  not ;  but  rising  upon  the  flowing  tide,  im 
pelled  by  a  lively  breeze,  she  bore  with  all  her  force  upon 

the  sturdy  barrier.     It  broke : alas !  the  shock  was  too 

severe  for  the  vessel ;  she  recoiled,  rolled  deeply  in  the 
waters,  and  striking  into  the  shalloAV  stream,  was  instantly 
aground. 

A  shout,  or  rather  a  yell  of  rapturous  exultation,  re- 
sounded from  the  hostile  banks;— and  boats  were  pushed 
off  for  the  purpose  of  boarding  the  Mountjoy :  while  a 
groan,  a  deep,  low,  scarcely-uttered  groan,  seemed  to  issue 
from  the  walls  of  Derry,  with  now  and  then  a  shriek  of 
female  agony,  re-echoed  by  terrified  children.  There  was 
a  horror  on  the  minds  of  those  devoted  beings,  compared 
with  which,  all  their  preceding  sufferings  seemed  light  and 
trifling :  but  there  was  also  many  a  prayerful  spirit 
wrought  into  that  intenseness  of  supplication,  which  can- 
not fail  of  entering  into  the  ears  of  the  Lord  God  of 
Sabaoth. 

The  Mountjoy  lay  upon  her  side,  seemingly  a  helpless 
victim  within  reach  of  the  foe  :  but  the  stake  for  which 
her  captain  fought  was  too  precious  to  be  trifled  with.  He 
fixed  an  earnest  gaze  upon  the  crowded  walls  of  Derry, 
then  raised  his  eyes  to  heaven  as  in  passionate  appeal ;  and 
drawing  his  sword,  sprang  forward  to  the  most  command- 
ing station  upon  deck,  cheering  his  men  to  a  determined 
resistance.  His  shout  was  answered  by  a  general  huzza 
from  the  crew,  each  gunner  applying  his  ignited  match, 


BERRY.  287 

and  a  tremendous  broadside  instantly  enveloped  the  com- 
batants in  a  cloud  of  smoke. 

This  was  indeed  the  climax  of  agonized  expectation  to 
the  gasping  spectators,  who  clung  to  their  rampart  walls 
for  that  support  which  their  own  trembling  knees  refused 
to  yield.  Mothers  strained  their  infants  as  in  the  very 
grasp  of  death,  and  joined  their  little  hands  together,  lifting 
them  between  their  own  in  mute  supplication.  Some 
were  actually  fainting  under  the  conflict  of  hope  and  ter- 
ror :  not  a  few  of  whom  had  mounted  the  walls  by  that 
strength  alone  which  desperation  gives,  to  sink  exhausted 
into  the  arms  of  bystanders  somewhat  less  enfeebled.  And 
the  voice  of  trembling  affection  was  heard  in  anxious  whis 
pers,  imploring  some  loved  one  to  revive,  and  hope,  and 
pray  for  the  issue  of  that  fearful  hour.  It  was  a  scene  to 
mock  description ;  a  reality  before  which  all  the  powers 
of  imagination  fade  into  contemptible  nothingness. 

The  few  seconds  that  elapsed  before  that  cloud  of  smoke 
rolled  away,  leaving  the  Mountjoy  once  more  fully  visible 
— those  few  seconds  seemed  long  indeed  to  the  breathless 
gazers.  They  passed,  and  the  gallant  ship  re-appeared,  not 
lying  in  stranded  helplessness  upon  the  bank,  but,  ma- 
jestically floating  in  deep  water,  she  ploughed  the  dancing 
tide  right  onwards  towards  the  town. 

"  That  broadside  saved  her !"  shouted  Walker,  "  she 
has  bounded  from  the  shore — she  has  passed  the  boom  ! 
Derry  and  Victory  !" 

Loud  and  long,  varied  and  strange,  were  the  sounds  that 
pealed  from  those  invincible  walls.  The  thundering  shout 
of  triumph  again  and  again  burst  forth,  mingled  with 
passionate  cries  of  devout  thanksgiving.  "  Not  unto  us,  O 
Lord,  not  unto  us,  but  unto  thy  name  be  the  praise  !  '  was  the 
language  of  many  a  lip ;  while  streaming  eyes  and  out- 
spread hands  were  raised  towards  the  dwelling-place  of  Hm 


288  DERRY. 

whom  out  of  the  depths  they  had  called,  and  from  whom 
they  had  received  so  gracious  a  reply. 

"  Hush,  baby,  hush  !"  said  the  mother,  while  the  laughter 
of  joy  mingled  with  her  agitated  sobs :  "  look  yonder  at  the 
pretty  ships  :  they  come  like  birds —  they  come  like  angels 
to  us.  There  is  food  for  my  baby — bread  for  my  child — 
meat,  meat  for  us  all.  Oh,  God  of  mercy,  ever  mindful  of 
thy  covenant,  thou  wilt  open  thy  hand  and  fill  us  all  with 
plenteousness !" 

Leaping  from  the  walls,  the  men  of  Derry  now  hastened 
to  throw  wide  the  ship-quay  gate,  and  in  the  bustle  of 
rapturous  preparation,  they  made  all  ready  for  receiving 
their  precious  freight.  The  other  ships  had  fought  their  pas- 
sage past  Culmore,  and  followed  the  Mountjoy,  where  the 
gallant  captain  had  fallen  in  the  moment  of  success.  A 
musket  ball  had  terminated  his  mortal  career,  the  last  effec- 
tive, discharged  by  the  baffled  foe. 

Magrath  had  hastened  to  his  favorite  post,  the  bedside 
of  Colonel  Murray,  whom  he  found  in  joyous  exultation, 
too  great  for  language  to  express.  A  silent  giasp  of  the 
hand  bespoke  their  mutual  congratulations,  and  then 
Magrath  sat  down,  and  burying  his  face  in  his  palms,  wept 
like  a  child. 

"  Many  a  stout  heart  has  melted  to-day,  my  lad,"  said 
the  Colonel,  after  a  short  pause,  "  and  I  should  not  envy 
the  feelings  of  the  man  who  could  be  ashamed  to  weep, 
when  he  looks  upon  our  living  spectres,  and  thinks  upon 
our  martyred  dead." 

"  True  for  you,  Colonel  Murray  ;  and  the  last  soul  that 
passed  hasn't  left  its  fellow  among  us." 

"  Do  you  mean  the  gallant  Browning  1" 

"  No,  Sir ;  I  mean  the  Lady  O'Neill." 

"  The  lady  of  JM'Alister  !"  exclaimed  Murra}^  almost 
starting  from  his  pillow:  and  before  Magrath  could  re- 
sume, Bryan  entered,  with  Morrison  and  Ross. 


DERRY.  289 

The  smile  with  which  M'Alister  greeted  his  friend  met 
no  response  ;  Murray's  brow  was  contracted,  and  he  said 
in  a  tone  almost  resentful,  "Surely,  surely,  she  might 
have  been  spared  to  rejoice  a  while  with  us !" 

"Aye,  surely,"  said  Morrison.  " She  is  spared  indeed, 
spared  all  farther  conflict  with  a  body  of  sin  and  death : 
spared  to  rejoice  with  us  for  ever." 

"  Don't  teach  me  rebellion,  dear  Colonel,"  said  Bryan, 
smiling  through  his  tears :  "  my  own  heart  is  ready  enough 
to  prompt  that  lesson.  The  liberated  saint  whom  we 
would  fain  have  kept  a  longer  tenant  in  this  dreary  dun- 
geon, lingered  till  our  deliverance  was  certain.  At  her 
own  request,  she  was  taken  to  the  church  battery,  where 
we  were  stationed  ;  and  there,  upon  that  hallowed  roof,  she 
poured  forth  the  supplications  of  a  soul  that  truly  wrestled 
unto  death,  for  us  and  for  our  cause." 

"When  the  minute  guns  of  distress  were  fired,"  observed 
Morrison,  "  she  expressed  her  thankfulness,  that  even  our 
engines  of  destruction  had  laid  aside  their  character,  utter- 
ing only  the  voice  of  sorrowful  entreaty." 

"  She  called  them  a  goodly  passing  knell,"  said  Ross ; 
^'  and  seeing  that  I  both  understood  and  felt  her  meaning, 
she  added,  '  All,  all  is  peace :  full  pardon,  foil  salvation, 
joy  unspeakable,  and  full  of  glory.'  " 

"  But  the  flag,"— said  Magrath. 

"Aye,"  rejoined  M'Alister,  "we  waved  our  flag,  the 
signal  of  distress,  and  reeled  beneath  its  weight  She  gaz- 
ed upon  its  crimson  folds,  and,  in  a  tone  of  holy  triumph, 
ejaculated,  '  Jehovah-nissi !  In  thy  name,  O  Lord,  we 
first  set  up  our  banners  :  for  thy  name's  sake,  put  to  thy 
hand,  hear,  behold,  and  save.'  It  was  then  that  Brown- 
ing's vessel  ran  aground,  and  every  shout  from  the  enemy, 
every  cry  from  the  walls,  seemed  to  infuse  new  energy 
into  her  prayers.  Life  was  ebbing  fast  away  ;  I  gave  her 
my  support,  and  strove  to  join  her  fervent  supplications ; 


2?90  DERRY. 

but  I  think  my  head  and  heai-t  were  failing  together,  for 
never  did  so  fearful  a  darkness  overspread  my  soul,  as  dur- 
ing that  season  of  suspense." 

"  It  was  not  yourself  only,  Mr.  Bryan,"  said  Magrath. 
"  Every  man's  face  was  changed,  and  blackened  as  if  by  a 
spell.  Such  looks  were  never  seen  among  living  men,  as 
we  beheld  this  day." 

"  And  did  she  rally  again  1"  asked  Murray,  whose  inte- 
rest appeared  intense. 

"  Yes :  when  the  ship  gave  that  successful  broadside, 
she  raised  her  head  in  earnest  expectation ;  and  then  the 
shout,  the  clamorous  joy,  that  told  its  glad  result,  came 
pealing  on  our  ears ;  our  comrades  on  the  battery  exclaim- 
ed, '  she  floats !  she  floats !'  and  I  raised  my  dying  charge, 
and  bore  her  to  the  point  from  whence  she  might  descry 
the  stately  vessels  bearing  down  in  unimpeded  approach. 
She  uttered  a  sound  of  joy,  and  spreading  abroad  her 
hands,  exclaimed,  '  Lord,  I  have  lived  to  pray — I  come  to 
praise  thee  !'  She  sunk  back,  breathed  the  name  of  Jesus, 
and  departed  to  abide  with  him  for  ever." 

There  was  a  pause  of  solemn  silence,  broken  at  last  by 
Magrath. 

"  There's  a  rest  and  a  glory,  Cblonel  Murray,  prepared 
for  the  people  of  God  :  a  city  where  nothing  can  enter  that 
has  not  been  washed  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  Outside 
its  gates  is  another  place,  and  that  place  is  hell.  'Tis  an 
awful  question  to  put,  which  dwelling  is  for  us  1  That 
question  was  once  put  to  me,  within  these  walls,  and  it 
stuck  like  a  barbed  hook  in  my  conscience  ;  till  God  gave 
me  the  peace  that  only  he  can  give.  The  question  is 
here,"  he  continued,  drawing  forth  his  beloved  Irish  bible, 
"and here,  too,  is  the  answer  ;  and  sorrow  a  sun,  that  may 
rise  upon  Larry  Magrath,  shall  set,  till  he's  told  both  ques- 
tion and  answer  to  the  ignorant  people  of  his   own   poor 


DERRY.  291 

country.  Over  mountain  and  bog,  I'll  bear  this  precious 
word,  this  story  of  peace,  and  many  a  knee  that's  now 
bent  in  sinful  worship  before  an  image  of  wood  or  clay, 
may  learn  to  bow  at  the  name  of  Jesus,  knowing  no  hope 
but  in  him  alone." 

"  You  must  not  leave  us,  Magrath,"  said  Murray,  anx- 
iously :  "  we  owe  you  a  debt  that  I  will  see  paid.  Your 
fidelity,  your  zeal,  your  courage  " 

"  Colonel  Murray,"  interrupted  the  Irishman,  rising, 
and  standing  before  him  in  collected  dignity,  "  Colonel 
Murray,  you  owe  me  no  debt.  The  debt  that  was  owing 
is  paid,  but  not  by  your  hand.  This,"  and  he  elevated 
the  Irish  Bible,  and  spoke  with  passionate  feeling,  "  this 
is  the  debt  that  you  owe  to  every  poor  child  of  sorrowful 
Erin.  It's  a  long  debt,  and  it  bears  a  fearful  interest,  and 
woe  to  the  Protestant  who  doesn't  come  forward  to  pay 
his  share  of  it !  You've  made  a  resolute  stand,  and  God 
has  prospered  it :  the  dark  horn-  is  ended,  and  yonder  foes 
will  be  marching  away  by  to-morrow's  dawn :  but  Papists 
defeated  may  rally  again  ;  they'll  nurse  the  red  spark  of 
hatred  from  father  to  son,  till  your  children's  grandchild- 
ren may  see  the  flame  break  out,  the  vengeance  of  heaven 
to  fan,  and  no  power  in  man  to  quench  it !" 

"  But,  Magrath,  wherein  lies  our  security,  if  not  in  Pa- 
pists defeated  1" 

"  In  Papists  converted.  Sir,"  answered  Magrath,  ener- 
getically. "  Take  the  word  of  a  Papist  who  came  here 
to  destroy  his  friends,  and  now  goes  forth  with  no  wish 
but  to  save  his  enemies.  You'll  never  enjoy  the  land  till 
you've  conquered  it  5  you  never  will  conquer  it  while 
Popery  reigns.  You  may  build  palaces,  and  dwell  in 
fenced  cities,  and  laugh  your  enemies  to  scorn  ;  but  there's 
that  concealed  under  the  cabin  roof  which  all  your  armies 
cannot  overcome.    You  may  hang,  and  shoot,  and  perse- 


292  DERRr. 

cute,  but  destroy  it  you  cannot;  you  may  flatter  and  foster, 
and  give  it  power,  but  your  friend  it  will  never  be. 
Popery  is  the  curse  of  God  upon  a  land;  and  nothing  can 
remove  it  but  the  blessing  of  God,  made  known  in  tlu- 
gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.'' 


(S^^^f, 


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